Yellowstone National Park lifts fire restrictions, reduces danger to ‘high’

Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park. (Matt Poyner/National Park Service)

Yellowstone National Park said it has reduced its fire level to HIGH and lifted Stage 1 fire restrictions that went into effect July 27.

“At this time, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park,” the park said.

It said no wildland fires are currently burning in the park.

However, Yellowstone also said campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites, and they must always be attended and be “cold to the touch before abandoning.”

Digging into the history of hydrothermal explosions at Yellowstone’s Biscuit Basin

A list of 2024 fires on the park’s website cited nine, all caused by lightning except one with an unknown cause. The largest of the fires was four acres.

The Greater Yellowstone area is a fire-adapted ecosystem , the park said: “Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation.”

On its website , the park said Biscuit Basin is still closed for the remainder of the summer due to a hydrothermal explosion earlier this summer on July 23, but the Grand Loop remains open to vehicles.

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