Update on fires, August 4

The map above shows heat detected on the LeHardy, Gunbarrel, and Cascade fires by satellites last night. The yellow lines are the last perimeters uploaded by the incident management teams.

Gunbarrel fire, 40 miles west of Cody, WY

UPDATE @ 1:00 p.m. MT Aug 4
The team reports the size as 21,995 acres, and:

Despite unfavorable weather conditions, high temperatures, low humidities, and high erratic winds, fire personnel have held the fire to the north side of the highway while protecting structures within the fire perimeter. More “Red Flag” weather conditions and an incoming wind event will further challenge containment efforts..... Protection of structures in the fire area and keeping the North Fork Highway open to traffic will be the strategic objectives for the next couple of days.

9:49 a.m. MT Aug. 4

The map indicates that the fire grew substantially yesterday, making big runs to the northeast. One newspaper reported the acreage at 22,000, an increase of about 5,000 over yesterday, which seems very possible when looking at the map. It appears that it has been a couple of days since the Team updated the perimeter in the Geomac system which generates the map.

When more information is available from the team we will update this post.

LeHardy fire, Yellowstone National Park

UPDATE 11:10 p.m. MT

The firefighter injured by the bear was Tony Allabastro of the Lewis and Clark Hotshots from Great Falls, Montana. He was treated and released from the Yellowstone clinic. A spokesperson from Yellowstone said: "It kind of roughed him up a little bit, so he has some scratching and stuff to his back. He got pounced on.”

The last acreage reported by the park staff was 4,260 on August 3, but the fire has grown substantially since then. The fire is still being run in-house by the park, with the Fire Management Officer Joe Krish serving as incident commander.

9:49 a.m. MT
Not much additional information is available since yesterday. We will try to get more information about the firefighter who was "roughed up" by the grizzly bear.

Cascade fire, Red Lodge, MT

Yesterday's Activities: Containment on the fire increased to 44%. There was minimal fire spread east, south and west with a total acreage of 10,165. On the east side of the fire, helicopters dropped 88,000 gallons of water, and 26,000 gallons of retardant. Crews worked the north, south and east sides of the fire, mopping up on the north, working the east side with helicopters and continuing line building on the south.

Today's Planned Activities: Crews will continue to mop and secure the line from Senia Creek Trail east and along the north side of the fire.

Telegraph fire

This fire west of Yosemite National Park in California is expected to be contained today. It has burned 34,091 acres and as of yesterday was 95% contained.