Arnica Fire in Yellowstone National Park

[Every Miles A Memory]

It was one of the coolest nights yet here in Yellowstone for us, and we just kept saying things like "Why does forest fire have to be so beautiful!"

Here are some of my shots from this evening of what I think they're calling the Arnica Fire

Cindy shooting the Fire from Dunraven Pass this morning. It wasnt that big yet

On our way back home to Grant Village, the smoke was getting thicker and the flames were shooting higher!

It made for one of the most breathtaking sunsets I've ever seen over Lake Yellowstone

I look at this and think "Why Does Forest Fire have to be so Beautiful?"

I know this one is a crappy shot, but it was pitch black out and this was with my 400f/2.8 The smoke was blowing across the lake pretty bad, the because it was dark, you could see the flames shooting up pretty high in the forest

I'm hoping they get this contained pretty fast, because the forecast is nice weather with mild winds like we had today, and I'd hate to see another 1988 type of fire again.

I'm dying to see what Nathaniel's shots look like. He's another Portal Member who is staying with us right now in our Employee Campground, but he shoots 4x5 big stuff, he was out all night shooting like we were, so I'm looking forward to see what his work is like, although something tells me it'll be a few months before we see them.

I guess that's the differences between Digital, and old school film. I shoot images, he Makes Art

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Very Kewl as Always!

This is so Awesome to have ExPo Members in the outback, to record the virtual happenings as they happen!

Can you really find any better, as it happens, ExPo News>?!!!

Thank You!:victory::sombrero::costumed-smiley-007:ylsmoke:



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[RMP&O]

nice pics...

I live in Jackson Hole and we have a number of big fires going right now. I woke up this morning to ash on my truck.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

RMP&O, we've been down in the Teton's all day long and got some really cool shots of the fires you've got going on down there.

Amazing how wild the smoke can change the landscape.

Just walked in the door from a long day of driving and shooting, so I dont know if I'll have any photos up tonight, it'll probably take a few hours to cut everything from the cameras to the hard drives, but I'll post a few fire pictures up from the Tetons too.

They're not as dramatic as the ones from Yellowstone, but they're cool none the less

 

[DrMoab]

Scarry times. Although the pictures are cool I'm glad it wasn't like that while we were visiting you guys.

Don't get too close!!!

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Fire Update from Within the Park

This is getting pretty scary as its our first time experiencing a major forest fire this close to home

The fire has now reached 8300 acres. There are 120 fire fighters working the fire with 5 helicopters trying to keep it from getting too close to some of the historic buildings.

Roads from West Thumb to Fishing Bridge are closed down because the fire has just crossed the road.

Most of the villages in the immediate area are running off of generators as they have the power shut off incase the power lines were to drop, they dont want them live.

Sprinklers set up which are drawing water from Lake Yellowstone are now soaking the surrounding forest and buildings to try and help keep the fire under control

Coming in the Cody Entrance. If you look to the right of the flag, you can see the red sun behind this thick wall of clouds

Right now I'm looking out the window in West Thumb towards the fire, some 20 miles away and the flames are leaping 100' into the air

 

[RMP&O]

that is no good....there is so much fuel up there and it is so dry it is easy for these fires to grow fast.

Forcast is calling for much cooler temps and perhaps some moisture by Wednesday though. If the weather changed it is more than likely this and other fires will be contained fast.

http://www.jacksonholenet.com/weather/weather_forecast.php?zc=83001

Back in 2001 I lived in an area of the valley that was effected by a forrest fire. We had to be evacuated for more than 9 days.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=1639

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/pdfs/july25greenknollupdate1.pdf

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Couple more pictures from the last few days of fire induced sunsets around mid-day

Even though this looks like a sunset, its actually the black cloud from the fire starting to creep over the sun. It was mid-afternoon on the Eastern side of Lake Yellowstone

Same spot, same time, just looking the other direction instead of looking out towards the lake

Looking South across Lake Yellowstone as the Smoke Clouds move over the sun. I think this was 6pm and the sun isnt setting right now till around 7:30ish

Cindy took this shot when we got back to the Lake Lodge for dinner. The cloud cover had given the entire scene this spooky, eerie yellowish feel. Sort of looks like some martian landscape. She was looking out over the front lawn from the front porch of the Lake Lodge towards Lake Yellowstone

This was heading towards the Lake area from Fishing Bridge. The EXIF data says it was taken at 6:23pm and like I said, the sun isnt normally setting till around 7:30ish. We were only a few miles from the main wall of the fire at this point, so the fire clouds had baiscally blocked out the sunlight

Entire Gallery can be seen here if you're interested in seeing more shots

 

[Funrover]

YIKES!! I hope it is under control soon. I was watching on the news about this... Scary

 

[MisterTinkle]

Forest fires can be spectacular destruction. Beautiful and scary. Yellowstone does recover; as evidenced by the fires of 1988. Wonderful shots as always, Pat.

 

[fowldarr]

I was up there in 1988, Our one and only family vacation (I was 10), but the massive destruction and beauty are still burned (nm the pun) in my mind. I'll never forget it

 

[hikingff77]

SUCKS! I love Yellowstone and I hope they get it contained. Just another season for YS though, there always seems to be turmoil from fire and then a new bounty from the regrowth.