Several small fires are burning in Yellowstone National Park, but none are viewed as a threat to visitors or structures, and all roads, services and facilities remain open.

As of mid-day Thursday, the National Park Service was tracking four fires burning across the park. They include:

Alder Fire

Overview:  The lightning-caused Alder Fire was detected on Wednesday morning in a remote area on Promontory Peninsula.  On the Promontory, it is north of Alder Lake, between the south and southeastern arms of Yellowstone Lake. This small fire is burning in heavy timber and is surrounded by Yellowstone Lake to the North, East, and West.  It is estimated at less than 1 acre.

After the fire was discovered managers flew over the fire to assess its potential and make plans for its management.

Fire managers will monitor this fire and prepare long term management plans that address safety to firefighters and the public, protection of structures, communities, natural and cultural resources.  Crews will be placed on Mount Sheridan to keep eyes on this fire as well as the Alum and Snake Fires.

Alum Fire

Overview:  The lightning-caused Alum Fire was discovered just after the Alder Fire on Wednesday morning, August 14, 2013. It is located south of Hayden Valley and southwest of Mud Volcano and just east of Alum Creek. It is less than 1 acre and continues to smolder. It has the Hayden Valley to the north which will act as a barrier to fire spread.

After the fire was discovered managers flew over the fire to assess its potential and make plans for its management. Very little activity was observed.

Fire managers will monitor this fire and prepare long term management plans that address safety to firefighters and the public, protection of structures, communities, natural and cultural resources.

Druid Fire

Overview:  The lighting-caused Druid Fire was reported the afternoon of August 9th.  It is burning in dangerous, steep, heavily timbered terrain on a north aspect of Druid Peak in the Lamar Valley north of Soda Butte above the Northeast Entrance Road. Fire behavior is smoldering as well as torching in isolated trees.

Yesterday the fire was quiet most of the day and became active around 4 p.m. and grew slightly to the southwest and is now estimated at 4-5 acres. The fire shows the most activity in the morning and then again in the late afternoon and evening.

With warmer drier weather predicted in the next few days, crews will continue to monitor it from a high vantage point in the area.  The Druid Fire will most likely be more visible from the Northeast Entrance Road starting today.

Snake Fire

The lightning-caused Snake Fire that was discovered August 5th is located in pockets of heavy timber about three miles east of the South Entrance to Yellowstone.  The roughly 200-acre fire has had no significant change in the behavior of this fire and it has shown very little smoke in the last few days.   Fire managers continue to monitor this fire and address plans for the safety to firefighters and the public, protection of structures, communities, natural and cultural resources.

All roads leading into and through the park and the surrounding forest and all campgrounds, lodging, stores, and visitor services are open.