Cloudy Skies and Light Rain Slow Magpie Fire

Date: July 24, 2006
Contact: Nash, [phone]
Contact: Vallie, [phone]

Light morning rainfall, cloudy skies and a late afternoon thunderstorm all contributed to a quiet Sunday on the Magpie Fire in Yellowstone’s backcountry.

The fire, burning in mature lodgepole pine about 7 miles east of Madison Junction, is now estimated at 805 acres.  The fire had been mapped at 780 acres Saturday evening.   Today’s forecast for partly cloudy skies, somewhat higher humidity, and a chance of isolated afternoon showers or thunderstorms suggest another day of limited fire activity.

While fire danger in the park remains high, there are no fire restrictions in place. Limited hiking trail closures remain in effect in the area of the fire. A temporary flight restriction continues above the fire. All visitor services, park entrances and roads are open. Smoke may be present along some park roads.
 
The Magpie Fire was spotted by fire lookouts last Monday evening. Firefighters are monitoring the fire’s growth on the ground, by aerial reconnaissance, and from fire lookout towers at Mount Washburn, Mount Holmes and Mount Sheridan.   The fire is surrounded by an area burned in the 1988 North Fork Fire.

The Magpie Fire is being managed as a Wildland Fire Use for Resource Benefits. The fire supports the park’s goal of allowing natural fires to play their role in the ecosystem when they do not threaten any park visitors or property.

There have been five wildland fires in Yellowstone National Park this year. Three have been declared out after burning less than an acre each. The Bison Peak fire northeast of Tower Junction continues to smolder. It has burned an area just 60 feet by 40 feet in size.

At times the Magpie Fire is visible from the Mount Washburn Fire Lookout web cam at http://www.nps.gov/yell/tours/livecams/mtwashburn. Updated information is posted to Wildland Fire section of the park web site at http://www.nps.gov/yell/technical/fire and to the InciWeb Incident Information System web site at http://inciweb.org.