National Park News

Afternoon thunderstorms brought abundant lightning to Grand Canyon National Park this week; and fire managers have identified six new fires, all on the North Rim of the park.

Thursday was a smoke filled day over the McCarthy-Kennecott area.

In the midst of scattered thunder showers and after lightning storms new fires were discovered. Six new fires were discovered on July 30. The Rainbow Ridge Fire, located above the Stehekin Valley, it is about 1/10 acre and is being suppressed by 2 firefighters.

Five other new fires are all small. Two are in Panther Creek, one is near Colonial Creek, another is in the Cascade River, and another near Bouck Lake.

Open Campfires Restricted at Camps on Lake Chelan in the following three campgrounds along the NPS-managed portion of Lake Chelan:
Flick Creek Camp
Weaver Point Camp
Manly Wham Camp

Yesterday afternoon, a Red Bluff family was hiking the Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  They were approximately one mile up the 2.5 mile ascent when a rock fall killed their nine year old son and seriously injured their 13 year old daughter.

Efforts to clean up underground contamination in Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding area will soon be underway, thanks to a joint partnership between the National Park Service (NPS) and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ).

Additional personnel were demobilized today as the Chakina Fire response transitioned to a monitoring operation.

A wildfire that moved into the park on Wednesday, July 29 has forced the closure of the Kolob Canyons District of Zion National Park.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is recruiting Junior Rangers.  Kids ages 5 through 12 and their families are invited to Junior Ranger Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 1 for a lively adventure in the park.

A fast moving wildfire has forced the closure of the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park.

A day after Monday’s burnout, smoke filled the skies of the McCarthy-Kennecott area.

North Cascades National Park Complex has launched a dynamic new Junior Ranger Program, which is FREE to the public. Four new age-appropriate activity booklets are being unveiled. The Junior Ranger program goals are for children to have fun in the park and to foster a lasting relationship with the North Cascades.  The new program was developed with support from Washington’s National Park Fund and the NPS Centennial Challenge.

A new fire was reported in the afternoon of July 28. The Crapper Fire is located about one mile southeast of Newhalem and the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center just up from the Newhalem Creek. The 2 acre fire is in steep terrain making it difficult to place firefighters. Nevertheless, helicopter bucket drops have slowed the fire substantially. Firefighters and aircraft resources will continue to work on this fire until it is out.

The month of August brings the last burst of flowers, thunderstorms and colorful sunsets. Why not come out to your national park or recreation area to enjoy those August delights or explore, learn and have fun?

Monday morning engine and hotshot personnel along with the Strelna and McCarthy Volunteer Fire Departments continued structure assessment and fuel reduction activities in the developed areas along the McCarthy road. 

Join a Voyageurs National Park biologist and learn about current lake sturgeon research occurring throughout the Namakan Lake System.

The Precipice and Beech cliff areas and the Precipice Trail are now open for the season. The peregrine falcons that occupied these nesting territories since March have successfully raised six fledglings.

Extensive storm activity the past weekend sparked two small active wildfires that are being suppressed.
The Pyramid Fire is south and above Pyramid Lake in North Cascades National Park. The fire is less than one acre in size and burning in mixed live and beetle killed conifer trees.
The Moon Fire is about nine miles northwest of Stehekin in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. This fire is also being suppressed due to its proximity to the Upper Stehekin Valley.
Luna Pilot Fire has burned less than one acre. Panther Creek Fire has continued to burn down to and along Panther Creek to the west – away from HWY 20. The fire is now estimated to be 215 acres in size.

Fire activity moderated yesterday due to cool, moist weather.

A new tool has been produced by the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center in Glacier National Park to help stop the spread of invasive plant species.  The Invasive Plants of the Crown of the Continent Field Guide is now available.

UPDATE: Public Scoping Comment Period Extended  to August 4, 2009
for Acquisition of Florida Power and Light Lands Environmental Assessment

Fire personnel resumed hand and aerial firing operations yesterday to remove pockets of fuel between the fire perimeter and the south bank of the Chitina River. Several critical sections were intentionally burned in the Steamboat Creek area and on both sides of the Chakina River…

Kelly Sayce, Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Public Outreach and Education Coordinator, and Dr. Satie Airamé, MLPA Science Advisor, will be the featured speakers at the July “From Shore to Sea” lecture series.  Together, they will discuss the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative planning process in the south coast region.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, search teams found a body believed to be that of overdue backpacker Bryce Gillies in the Bonita Creek drainage on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Fire activity was low yesterday due to cool, moist weather.

This morning, a 64 year old male from Estes Park, Colorado, fell approximately 10 feet in the “Trough” area of Longs Peak.

On Monday, July 27, weather permitting, a chip seal project will begin on Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.  The project will be between the Bear Lake Road Junction with Highway 36 (Trail Ridge Road) and the Park & Ride, which is roughly 5 miles.

Weather and winds were favorable Thursday afternoon and 3,500 acres were intentionally burned in an aerial firing operation on the Chakina Fire.

Due to recent bear activity near the Queen Inlet camper dropoff, the dropoff is being relocated to Sundew Cove, on the western shore of Glacier Bay near Hugh Miller Inlet.

Parking for Spry and Pine Creek canyoneering areas to be limited as well