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English > Historical Fires > 1988 - Yellowstone Fire
Fires have always been a part of Yellowstone National Park. Both low intensity and stand replacement fires are historically normal in Yellowstone. In the 1970s, the Park adopted a policy of allowing all fires to burn unless they threatened inhabited areas.
For several years before the 1988 fire season, there were not many severe wildfires in Yellowstone. 1988 was expected to also be a mild year; heavy rains fell on the park in April and May. But by June, most of Yellowstone was experiencing a severe drought.
Fuels grew drier, and early summer thunderstorms produced lightning without rain. The fire season began early, but it was still not expected to be a particularly severe wildfire year.
However, because of the drought, 1988 proved to be one of the worst seasons in the park's history. On July 15, 1988, 8,500 acres were burning. Two weeks later, 99,000 acres were aflame. By the beginning of August, extremely dry fuels and strong winds made the fires almost uncontrollable. On August 20, 1988, the peak day of the fires, 150,000 acres were blazing, the fires spreading by strong winds.
Statistics:
| Acres burned: |
793,000 (36% of the park's total acreage) |
| Structures destroyed: |
76 |
| Estimated property damage: |
$3,000,000 |
| Hand-cut fireline: |
655 miles (1,054 kilometers) |
| Bulldozer-cut fireline: |
137 miles (220 kilometers) |
| Animals killed in the fire: |
345 dead elk (of an estimated 40,000-50,000) |
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36 deer |
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12 moose |
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6 black bears |
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9 bison |
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1 grizzly bear (presumed to be dead) |
The effects of the Yellowstone Fire on plants and animals are still being studied today. Because of the Yellowstone Fire, many other national parks have updated their forest policies regarding wildfires.
© ThinkQuest Team C0119184 :: Credits & Sources
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