In the spring of 1988, nobody could have guessed what was to come. April was wet, producing 155 percent of normal moisture and May followed suit with 181 percent of normal moisture.

When June turned unusually dry (20 percent of normal), Yellowstone’s fire managers did not worry. They knew the previous nine Julys had been wetter than normal and they anticipated another wet July. In fact, in early summer twenty lightning-caused fires were allowed to burn. Each was evaluated separately, according to the fire management plan, and eleven burned themselves out, just like many fires had in the past.