Lightning Sparks More Fires

Lightning from Wednesday’s storms sparked three new fires south of Jackson and east of Star Valley and one in Yellowstone.  Fortunately, Forest officials say all three of their fires were limited to 1/10 acre or less.  The Box Fire was above the Box Y Ranch along the Greys River, The Sherman Fire was in the Salt River Range and the Grayback Fire was located on Grayback Ridge between Greys River and Jackson above the Snake River Canyon. All three fires were put into immediate suppression. Lightning from recent thunderstorms has also started a small fire inside the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, along the Montana-Wyoming border. The Blacktail Fire was reported shortly after 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon a little over a mile north of the entrance to Blacktail Plateau Drive. That fire is currently estimated at 15 acres. Lightning strikes have been known to start fuels smoldering and be fanned into flames days later, so park and forest officials remain alert for more starts resulting from Wednesday’s storm.