A new fire was reported on the Wapiti Ranger District of Shoshone National Forest. The lightning-caused Yellow Fire is .2 acres in size and burning in timber, dead and downed fuels. It is in the Washakie Wilderness, approximately 33 miles down the South Fork Valley, between Ishawooa and Yellow creeks. This area is south-southwest of Cody.

The Yellow Fire is located up high on a mesa, in difficult and remote terrain that is only accessible by helicopter. It is being managed by local resources who are monitoring it from below the mesa, and a Type 3 helicopter that is checking it from the air. As of Monday morning, no structures were threatened and no closures were in place. For additional information about the Yellow Fire, contact the Wapiti District Office at 307-527-6921.

A new small and remote wildland fire was also reported in Yellowstone National Park. A visitor spotted the remote Hitching Post Fire about 5.5 miles south of the park’s Northeast Entrance Road and .5 miles east of the Lamar River Trail in Lamar Valley. The fire was likely ignited by lightning and is currently about .5 acres and smoldering in steep terrain. 

Crews are working to confine it and there were no closures due to the fire as of the Tribune’s press deadline. The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is high.