Posted by Ranger Janet (165.83.6.33) on September 11, 2002 at 17:07:44:
In Reply to: fires posted by Jass and Katy on September 11, 2002 at 14:41:08:
: Are most of the fires in Yellowstone by natural causes?
Hi Jass and Katy,
I have in front of me Wildfire: A Family Activity Book produced by NOVA which states that more often than not wildfires are started by humans--not lightning. Here in Yellowstone that is not the case. THIS YEAR, Yellowstone had 46 fires. Of those 4 were caused by power lines and the other 42 by lightning. In Yellowstone's 1988 fires, 9 fires where cause humans and 42 were caused by lighning. Lightning starts an average of 22 fires annually in the park.