Pinedale area fires, Pinedale Online

Fire Update
Wednesday, August 8, 2001
FIRE DANGER is: EXTREME
Open Fire Restrictions now in Effect

Fires at a Glance

Partial open fire and smoking restrictions are in effect for all of Sublette County, Bridger-Teton National Forest, State and BLM lands. Campfires are allowed ONLY in developed recreation sites, ie. campgrounds, with provided fire grates. No open fires allowed in dispersed sites even if they have a fire pit. Fires are permitted in fully enclosed stoves or grills, or stoves using pressurized liquid or gas. Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle or building, in a developed recreation site, or an area cleared at least 3' in diameter of all flammable material. Chainsaws must have approved spark arresting devices properly installed, and operators must have a fire extinguisher and round point shovel. Other restrictions are also in effect.

New small fires have been popping up and keeping the local fire crews busy, but nothing very large and they are fairly quickly extinguished. The upper Green River area seems to be getting the brunt of the lightning lately. Visitors are asked to report any smoke columns they see promptly.

There are no closures in Winds, Wyoming Range and Gros Ventre mountains and the only restrictions are for the open fire ban.

The Green Knoll fire up near Wilson, several miles southwest of Jackson, is being called 100% contained. It still has crews on it doing mop up, and probably will until the snow flies to put it completely out. No homes were lost and homeowners now face the task of clearing up their property. The price tag on this fire is at 12.7 million dollars to date. It has been determined that this fire was human-caused, due to an escaped campfire.

The Dinwoody fire on the east side of the Wind River range in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness area began August 1st on the Shoshone National Forest. It is about 572 acres in size and has prompted the closing of the Glacier Trail from Burro Flats south. People recreating in the northern part of the Wind River Range may see smoke from this fire, but so far it isn't affecting our side of the mountains.
The state of Wyoming Tourism Department has frequently updated fire information for travelers at www.wyomingtourism.org.
Map of other wild fires in the US
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Latest Fire Press Releases

Firefighters work to save a home near Wilson , Wyoming during the Green Knoll fire. Cost of the firefighting effort has passed $12.7 million.

Where to get more information:

For More Info on the Web

Teton Fires
Bridger-Teton National Forest
National Interagency Fire Center NIFC Wildland Fire Map

Bridger-Teton Fire Info
Staffed Phone: 307-739-5577
7:00 am-10 pm

Jay Anderson, BTNF Public Affairs, Jackson
307-739-5542

Pinedale Ranger District
29 CR-154, Pinedale
307-367-4326

Big Piney Ranger District
315 S. Front, Big Piney
307-276-3375

Where to report fires:
Sublette County Sheriff's Office
911 or 307-367-4378
Pinedale Ranger District
307-367-4326
Big Piney Ranger District
307-276-3375
BTNF Supervisor's Office (Jackson)
307-739-5500
Teton Fire Dispatch
(Grand Teton Park in Moose)
307-739-3630
307-739-3300

Callers are reminded that if they are using a cell phone, they may not get a local office when they dial 911. The best place to call for area fires is either the local Sheriff's office or the Bridger-Teton Fire Office. Be prepared to give a location of the smoke, your name, where you are calling from, and how they can get ahold of you again for more information if needed.

Wednesday, August 8, 2001

Open fire restrictions went into effect Wednesday, August 1st for the entire Sublette County and Bridger-Teton National Forest. Details of the fire restrictions are posted at forest entrances, trails, and at District offices. Basically, you can have a campfire in a developed recreation area still, but no where else. You can also still use a chainsaw to get firewood, but must have an approved spark arrestor, fire extinguisher and shovel nearby. Fire danger is currently at EXREME.

"We're in worse condition this year than we were last year as far as vegetation, dryness conditions and overall lack of water. Ponds and creeks are drying up that haven't dried up before" commented Cindy Stein of the Pinedale Ranger District. Lightning storms have been passing through very frequently and strikes have been causing small fires, mostly in the upper Green River area of our part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Forest Service fire crews have been getting on these fires very quickly with ground crews and by helicopter, so fortunately none has become very large. New small fires have been up in the Jack Creek area by Fisherman Creek near Bondurant and Rock Creek. These have all been small spot fires that have been fairly quickly put out.

Pick Your Spot Carefully
"People need to choose their campsites carefully as far as their own safety goes. It may be very difficult to stop a fire when one starts. Think about alternate routes out in case the trailheads you chose are closed. Keep an eye out for smoke columns and report them as soon as you can, being careful to ensure your own safety first" said Stein. The Wind River Range gets thousands of visitors every season, some seeking the remotest parts of the range to 'escape' to for their recreation experience. It may take days to hike in and out of some of these locations. People sometimes have the idea that if a fire gets started, they'll just call out on their cell phones and the Forest Service will send a helicopter to get them out. What they may not realize, however, is that many parts of the Wind River mountains don't get cell phone reception. Also, should a fire get started, helicopter resources will be diverted to fire fighting efforts. It would be impossible for emergency services people to helicopter out all of the several thousand people who are in the Wind River mountain backcountry at any given moment during the peak of the summer. Wilderness recreationists should make their own contingency plans for emergency situations requiring detours or evacuation, and know alternate routes to get to where they are wanting to go should the need arise.

Campfires & Cigarettes
The Forest Service is still finding campfires that have been left unattended by campers. With the present restrictions that are in effect, campfires are now only allowed in designated recreation areas, such as campgrounds, with fire pits. No open campfires are allowed in dispersed areas, even if they have a campfire ring. Campers are also being asked to be extremely careful with cigarettes, and to make sure they are completely out. "People don't realize how many fires get started by cigarettes that aren't completely out" said Stein. "They can smolder for days. People think they are out, but they aren't."

It Might be a Very Costly Camping Trip
Carelessness could prove to be very expensive. If you cause a wildfire due to a campfire you left burning, or a cigarette you didn't make sure was completely extinguished, you may find yourself liable for the firefighting expenses. The Forest Service has gone after people who start fires due to gross negligence or reckless endangerment and homes are threatened or lost, and the responsible person has had to pay for the costs of the fire suppression. The Green Knoll fire is now believed to have been started by a careless camper that left a campfire burning. The price tag for that fire now stands at 12.7 million dollars.

The Interagency Fire Information Center is open up in Jackson for fire questions daily from 7 am until 10 pm. You can get information, updated several times daily, online at the Teton Fires web site, www.tetonfires.com. If you need to talk with someone in person, call (307) 739-5577. We encourage people to check out the web site first to find the answers to your questions.

You can also get information, updated several times daily, from the Wyoming Department of Tourism regarding how fires may affect your planned trip. Their web site is: www.wyomingtourism.org.

Earlier Updates:
Wednesday, August 1 update
Sunday, July 29 update
Friday, July 27 update
Wednesday, July 25 update
Tuesday, July 24 update
Monday, July 16 update
Monday, July 9 update
Sunday, July 8 update
Saturday, July 7 update
Friday July 6, 2001 9 pm update
Friday, July 6, 2001 8 am update
Thursday, July 5, 2001

FIRE DANGER IS VERY HIGH

Press Releases:
Click here for the latest: http://www.tetonfires.com/media/index.htm
July 25, 2001 (BTNF/GTNP) Evacuation Ordered for Two Fire Area Subdivisions. Green Knoll Fire Receives Top Priority for Suppression.
July 24, 2001 (BTNF) Green Knoll Fire Experiences Limited Growth
July 24, 2001 (BTNF/GTNP) Green Knoll Fire Area Estimates Reevaluated
July 22, 2001 (BTNF) Green Knoll Fire Update
July 22, 2001 (BTNF) Mosquito Creek Fire Update
July 14, 2001 (BTNF) Lightning Show Sparks More Fires on the BTNF
July 13, 2001 (BTNF) New Fires Ignite as Incident Management Teams Depart BTNF
July 9, 2001 (BTNF) Greys River Complex Fire Fact Sheet
July 8, 2001 (BTNF) Fire Crews Released as Teams get a grip on Complex Fires
July 8, 2001 (BTNF) Greys River Complex Fire Fact Sheet
July 7, 2001 (BTNF) Positive Outlook on BTNF Fisherman Complex Fires
July 7, 2001 (BTNF) Greys River Complex Fire Fact Sheet
July 7, 2001 8:00 am (BTNF) National Teams Arrive on BTNF Fires
July 6, 2001 8:00 am (BTNF) National Teams Called in to Manage BTNF Forest Fires
July 5, 2001 3:00 pm (BTNF) Thirteen Fires Burning on Bridger-Teton National Forest
July 5, 2001 8:00 am (BTNF) Eleven Fires Burning on Bridger-Teton National Forest

Anyone with concerns about fires can contact the Sublette County Sheriff's office at 307-367-4376, or the Pinedale Ranger District, 307-367-4326. Hikers in the wilderness who may have cell phones and can get a signal out can call 911 and ask to be routed to the Sublette County Sheriff's office if they have concerns.

Last Year's Fires: 2000 Fire pages
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Pinedale Online fire update. Local fire status information provided by the Pinedale Ranger District, US Forest Service Bridger-Teton National Forest. Copyright 2001.