Yellowstone fires of 1988

The Yellowstone fires of 1988 were the costliest forest fires in United States history to that date. Tens of thousands of firefighters worked for more than 3 months to try and extinguish the flames, which were only finally put out when increased moisture, mostly in the way of snowfall, spread over the region in late September of that year.

Firestorm

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  Fire spreads towards the Old faithful complex on September 7
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  Fire is nearing the Old faithful complex as fire crews water down structures on September 7
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  Fire is nearing the Old faithful complex as fire crews water down structures on September 7
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  Non emergency personnel evacuate as a firestorm advances on the Old faithful complex on September 7
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  Firestorm advances to within 100 yards of major structures in the Old faithful complex on September 7
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  Firestorm on the Mirror Plateau
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  Firestorms swept through the Grant Village complex on July 23
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  Fires rage immediately east of West Yellowstone, Montana
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  Fire spreads out of the park to the south towards the Snake River

Ground fires

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  Old Faithful erupts while small ground fires burn in the background
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  A windswept sage fire rapidly advances on a barn
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  A ground fire spreads through Grant Village
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  A ground fire spreads through Grant Village and begins to "crown" into the tree tops
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  Fire burns from the inside out in this tree
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  Fire and smoke from buring sage
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  Ground fires at Norris Geyser Basin

Firefighting efforts

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  Fire fighters using hand tools and water lines mop up after a ground fire
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  Helicopter retrieves water
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  Helicopter dropping water on fire
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  Heavy lift helicopter can carry larger water buckets
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  U.S. Military troops walk along a fireline
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  Fightfighters spray foam on structures
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  The northeast entrance to Yellowstone covered in foam
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  Irrigation is set up along a powerline
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  A tanker drops fire retardant
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  Firefighters water down the Old Faithful Inn to keep embers from igniting the roof
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  A news crew wearing nomex carries equipment
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  Firefighter near Norris Geyser basin on August 20, 1988, better known as "Black Saturday". The smoke was so dense in places, it turned daytime into night.

Smoke conditions

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  Smoke rises from fires in the Lamar Valley
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  Black smoke obscures the sun
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  Smoke along a fire line in dense forest
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  Smoke inversion over the Absarokas
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  Park Rangers at a road block near West Thumb

Rejuvenation

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  Fire burned in a mosaic pattern, leaving some areas untouched
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  Fire burned in a mosaic pattern, leaving some areas untouched
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  In just a few days after the fire, grass began to grow in areas that were burned
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  Lodgepole pine cones were opened up by the heat of the fire, making it easier for them to distribute their seeds
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  Fireweed grew within a few weeks of the fire
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  Larkspur also grew before the winters snows came
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  One year after the fire, wildflowers grew in abundance
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  These Lodgepole pine seedlings sprouted one year after the fire
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  10 years after the fire, these Lodgepole pines grow in great density amongst still standing dead trees leftover from the fires
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  The Lodgepole pine forest seen here in 1998 is growing back healthier and denser than it was prior to the fire
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  Lodgepole pine forests seen here in 2006 continue to grow back into areas that were burned in 1988

Rejuvenation along Fountain Flat Drive after the 1988 wildfire....

Wildlife

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  Bison continue to graze as fire spreads in the background
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  A bison crosses the road between two fire engines
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  A bull Elk surveys an area that recently burned

Historical

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  Firefighter en route to fire in 1953
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  Lodgepole pine forest in 1965. The understory has decades of accumulation of dead trees.

Maps

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  GIF showing progression of fires from July to October, 1988
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  Legend to compliment GIF at left