Fire Detection

Yellowstone has three lookout stations on mountains of more than 10,000 feet in elevation that are staffed by trained firefighters during the fire season to detect fire starts and monitor fires that are being allowed to burn. The Mount Washburn station is accessible by vehicle; the Mounts Holmes and Sheridan stations must receive logistical support by pack animals and helicopter, with water and other supplies delivered twice a month. The stations are equipped with cell phones, radios, high quality optical equipment, and a conventional fire finder that is used to calculate azimuth and range. Two additional stations may be used during periods of exceptional fire danger or monitoring needs. Park rangers on road, horseback, and foot patrol also look for new fire starts as part of their normal patrol routine, and may be requested to investigate fire reports in their district if a reported fire can not be confirmed by one of the lookouts. After periods of severe lightning when the fire danger is rated “extreme” or when visibility from the lookouts is hindered by smoke, the park service contracts fixed wing or small aircraft to look for smokes and monitor fires in Yellowstone.