Preventing, not fighting fires, is primary job for Turnbull crews

Fire management changed after 1988 Yellowstone fires

(Editor's Note: This is the second of a two-part series on fire fighting crews at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge.)

By PAUL DELANEY

Staff Reporter

A

n event nearly a quarter century ago changed the way agencies entrusted to watch over America's wide open spaces manage their respective lands.

The Yellowstone fires of 1988 were the largest in that national park's recorded history as 793,880 acres, or 36 percent of the park, was affected by the wildfires.

A cross-country flight today that passes over the park will leave one wide-eyed in amazemen...