News Release

UPDATE: Yellowstone's historic Mount Holmes Fire Lookout; Trail closure lifted and investigation wraps up

Remains of burned Mt. Holmes Fire Lookout

National Park Service

News Release Date: August 5, 2019

Contact: Morgan Warthin, [phone]

• The week of July 29, structure fire staff investigated the burned Mount Holmes Fire Lookout, cleaned up the site, and mitigated all of the hazards. 
• Staff also repaired the radio repeater. 
• The Mount Holmes Trail west of the junction with the Trilobite Lake Trail and the summit of Mount Holmes is now open. 
• The investigation confirmed that the building burned from the top down due to a lightning strike.
• At this point, park managers do not have plans to rebuild the lookout. 

Background 

• Tuesday, July 16, in the afternoon, the historic Mount Holmes Fire Lookout burned to the ground having been struck by lightning from a severe thunderstorm in the area.
• For additional information, please read the July 17, 2019, news release.