We’re certainly not criticizing the National Park Service because wildfires can spread rapidly.
It’s just that this is a type of announcement we haven’t seen before.
There is a new fire in Yellowstone named the “Hancock Fire” and it consists of one smoldering tree.
The Park Service announced on its Facebook page that at around 11:45 a.m. Monday, a ranger detected the fire.
“The tree that is on fire is smoldering with no open flame,” the announcement reads. “Since the fire has low spread potential and is located in a remote area, several miles from a trail, fire staff will monitor it and will not take direct action.”
The agency called the smoldering tree a “0.1-acre fire” and it is believed to have been set by lightning as a strike was seen close to that location a few days prior.
Nothing is closed as a result of the smoldering tree. Campsites and trails remain open.
However, fire danger in the Yellowstone area remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. All residents and visitors can assist fire efforts by following fire restrictions to reduce the potential of additional starts.
