20 August - Yellowstone Fires of 1988 know as “Black Saturday"

 

One of the most notable fire events occurred in 1988, commonly known as the "Yellowstone Fires of 1988."

During the summer of 1988, multiple fires ignited and spread across the park due to a combination of factors, including drought, dry conditions, and lightning strikes. These fires eventually merged into large and intense wildfires. The fires burned through a significant portion of the park's landscape, including forests and grasslands.

The exact number of acres destroyed can vary based on the specific sources and timeframes considered, but it is widely reported that more than 793,000 acres (approximately 36% of the park's total area) were affected by the fires in 1988. The fires prompted a significant response effort involving firefighting teams from various agencies.

The 1988 Yellowstone fires had ecological impacts and led to discussions about fire management policies in national parks. Despite the destruction caused by the fires, they also played a role in natural regeneration and ecosystem renewal. Over time, the park's landscape has shown signs of recovery, with new growth and ecological changes taking place.

On the most significant single day, Saturday, August 20th, to be known thereafter as “Black Saturday,” tremendous winds pushed fire across more than 150,000 acres.