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Yellowstone National Park (17)  


Introduction

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Upper Geyser Basin

Old Faithful

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Yellowstone River

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Fire

References

Fire

The summer of 1988 brought some of the greatest forest fires ever to occur in the Yellowstone area. The great fires of 1988 burned across almost half of the park's area, reaching 988,925 acres. Satellite photos showed that 44.5% of the park's 2.2 million acres burned. About 25% experienced "canopy burns" which actually killed the trees there. The previous greatest natural fire in the area occurred near Hebgen Lake in 1931 which burned about 20,000 acres.

Precursors to the Fire Usually, the forests of the Yellowstone area are quite resistant to fire. But the cataclysmic fires were a result of several factors. First, the area had not experienced a large fire in many years, and fuel for a conflagration was abundant. Second, Yellowstone forests had experienced an invasion of its forests by subalapine fir. Third, 1988 featured the driest summer in recorded Yellowstone history. No rain whatsoever was experienced after Memorial Day. This, combined with a large amount of lightning experienced and high winds in the area set the stage for a serious problem. As 49 separate fires were started by lightning in Yellowstone, most by dry lightning.





A big factor in the severity of the fires in 1988 was the tremendous buildup of fuels. Some of this was due to fire suppression policies which had been followed at various times in the history of the park, and some due to the fact that no major fire had been experienced in the Yellowstone ecosystem since the 1750's, when large fires burned in forests near the lake. Historically, large fires destroyed fuels whose buildup made cataclysmic fires possible.

The Fires Themselves In 1988, 7249 fires were actually identified in the park, which is twice the normal number experienced. However, during the summer it was the 9 separate large and destructive fires which ravaged the park. Pushed by gale force winds, the magnitude of the fires was amazing, affecting 990,000 acres within Yellowstone and 420,000 acres outside of the park. Large trees were snapped like toothpicks 15 to 20 feet above the ground. At one point during the summer, the entire Old Faithful Complex was surrounded by the fire.



The 9 major fires started in various parts of the park. The North Fork fire, which burned in the western section of the park from Old Faithful to Madison Junction, began when men cutting firewood dropped lighted cigarette butts on the ground. The North Fork fire eventually consumed 504,025 acres. The Clover Mist Fire, in the northeast section of the park consumed 319,575 acres. In addition to destruction of large amounts of forest, the entire Yellowstone area was blanketed by smoke from early July until late September.

The results of the fire left skeleton forests and covers of ash in many places. Trees killed by the fire may themselves remain standing in many places from 20-40 years, some of which can be seen below.



Fighting the Fires Fighting the fires was a massive endeavor. Some 9,500-10,000 fire fighters, including both civilian and military personnel, participated in the fight, and not a single life was lost in the effort. In addition to efforts on the ground, aerial tanker planes, capable of carrying 3000 gallons, dumped water and retardant on the fires. Aerial craft included 77 helicopters and 12 fixed wing aircraft.

More than 1000 miles of fire line were dug by fire fighters on the ground. The overall cost of the effort was about $111,377,623, of which a third was expended on the North Fork Fire.

One difficulty of fighting the fires was the phenomenon of spotting. In high winds, embers from a fire may be blown past the fire line, causing the fire to "jump." In Yellowstone, winds which blew up to 60 mile per hour caused flames to jump up to miles ahead. This seriously compromised the normal approach to fighting the fires.

In truth, however, all of the fire fighting effort put forth had minimal effects on the fires, and nature and weather in the form of fall snows, which began falling on September 11, finally ended them. It is believed by some observers that at least some of the fires might have been stopped if more effort had been applied earlier in burn, although national park fire policies complicated this approach. As it was, after July 15 no new natural fires were permitted to continue to burn without intervention, and after July 21 every fire was subject to full suppression efforts.



Results of the Fires Damage to the forests in the park was extensive. In fact, the last time the park area experienced fires of this magnitude was the 1600's.

Additionally, some increases in lake pH and alkalinity resulted from the fires. Fortunately, fish in these lakes are tolerant short-term changes in the chemistry of the lake water.

The fires also took a toll on tourism in the park, and cost the tourist industry a great deal of money. People were well informed about the progress of the fires and the fight against them, as between July 21 and September 21, more than 3000 media people in Yellowstone National Park provide coverage of the fire. Ironically, park tourism records were set for October in the aftermath of the fires.



In addition to the effects of the fire, damage to park lands was also of necessity done by the efforts to fight the fire. Following the fires, restoration was necessary for 10,000 miles of fire lines dug by fire fighters, 5-7 major fire camps, 51 spike camps, tons of litter, 100 miles of fire road, 600 miles of trails, and 150 spots prepared for helicopter landing.

Wildlife in Yellowstone paid a price as well. The great fires resulted in the loss of 257 (or 246) elk, 9 bison, 4 mule deer, 2 grizzly bears, 1 black bear (or none, depending on the source cited), and 2 moose. Most animals lost perished due to asphyxiation from the smoke.

Some successes were experienced, as few buildings and other resources were lost. In fact, not one major feature of the park was destroyed. Some areas, including the Grand Canyon and the Hayden Valley area, were largely spared. The visitor complex at Old Faithful was endangered as well, at one point surrounded by fire. Significant damage to the forest in the area was suffered, but only a few buildings were lost, and nothing particularly significant.



However, the general success of the fire fighting efforts was minimal. The fires continued to burn until fall when snowfall finally brought them to an end. Had there been no fire fighting efforts, some estimates indicate that only an additional 10% to 20% of the forest would have been burned.

There have been many beneficial effects of the fire as well. One of these is increased food for elk, moose, bison, and other large animals. The snags provide living space for birds and other animals. The heat of the fires kill soil pathogens and change, or improve, the properties of the soil. It recycles nutrients.


The fire thins the remaining forest and may result in increased vigor of the remaining living trees. Fire is beneficial for the forest in that it kills diseased or distressed stands of lodgepole pine which otherwise might continue to stand. The fires also consumed debris on the forest floors which provide fuel for future fires, and in so doing fireproofs areas of park forest for generations.

Some trees are dependent on fire for successful regeneration. Also new meadows have been created by the fires, and wildflowers and the grasses have flourished. Views and vistas previous blocked by forest cover have been uncovered by the removal of the trees.



After the fire, burnt lodgepole pine trunks are usually left where they fall. 55 kinds of birds, 24 kinds of mammals use the snags for food as well as for nesting, perching.

Although the loss of so many acres of forest is painful, one of the great stories of the Yellowstone fires is the remarkable way that nature replenishes itself. Many kinds of life begin recolonizing burnt areas soon after the fires end. The forests reconstitute themselves as well, with both aspen and lodgepole pine returning quickly after a fire. Millions of new lodgepole pines have grown since the fire. Fire causes the cone of the lodgepole pine to open and deposit its seeds on the ground that they might germinate. Yellowstone became a sunnier place with better wildlife habitat and greater plant diversity. Only 22,000 acres were scorched so badly that the land could not renew itself. When all is said an done, a visit to Yellowstone National Park still provides an extraordinary experience.



References

Information about Yellowstone has been drawn from personal experience, maps and other information available in the park itself, and a number of other sources, including:


- First Page for Yellowstone National Park -

  • All photographs ©Patrick Holleran, Shannon Technologies, 1994-2010

  • Commercial use of the images contained in this document without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

  • Comments and other remarks can be sent via e-mail to parkvision@shannontech.com