Wyoming Fire Update
July 17, 2006
The hot, dry weather over the last couple of days has kicked up the fire activity. We have one fire presently burning on the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of New Fork Lakes. The Jim Creek Fire is about 600 acres and is being allowed to burn for resource benefit. Anyone traveling up towards Green River Lakes will notice the plume of smoke from this fire in the mountains off to the east.
The big plume of smoke that was visible north of that on Monday was from the Little Venus Fire burning on the Shoshone National Forest about 30 miles west of Meeteetse. This plume of smoke was clearly visible from Big Piney on Monday afternoon. Recreationists on Union Pass have a great view of the smoke column and the distance can be deceiving. It is on the other side of the mountains another 30-some miles northeast of Dubois. This fire has been burning for about a month and is being allowed to burn for resource benefit.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported Monday in Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Idaho and Wyoming. While fire danger is high in many places in Wyoming, it is still rated at Moderate on the Bridger-Teton, with no fire restrictions in place for campfires.
High pressure ridge remains over the West with hot, dry weather for most of the region. Monsoon moisture is slowly starting to filter into southern California and the southern Great Basin. Southwest Utah was under a Fire Weather Watch Monday for dry lightning and gusty outflow winds.
There are presently 27 active large fires burning across the United States. Nine of those are being allowed to burn and managed for resource benefit (including two in Wyoming). There are two other wildfires burning in Wyoming, one near Devil’s Tower and another near Douglas.
Other Wyoming Fires:
Little Venus (Shoshone National Forest) 5,918 acres
Lightning-started fire approximately 30 miles west of Meeteetse on the Shoshone National Forest, burning since June 19th. This fire is being allowed to burn to achieve resource objectives. The fire is showing occasionally extreme fire activity. Interior burning of dead and down fuels. Some observed perimeter growth due to higher temperature, lower humidity, drier conditions, and wind. The fire is on both sides of the Greybull River, initiating management actions. Stuart Creek Outfitter Camp has been disassembled and the plan is being implemented. Little Venus Fire
Thorne Divide Complex (Crook County): 14,808 acres at 60% contained
This fire is 5 miles south of Devils Tower National Monument and is burning in timber and grass. Several residences, powerlines, timber, grazing land and the National Monument remain threatened. Spotting and interior burning were reported. Thorne Divide Complex
Twenty Mile (Casper Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 742 acres at 30% contained
This fire is 20 miles northeast of Douglas and is burning in grass, sage, juniper and ponderosa pine. Commercial property including a radio tower, pumping station, and natural gas well are threatened. Extreme fire behavior with running, crowning and torching was observed.
Related Links:
National Fire News, Updated daily
Updated information for individual fires, http://www.inciweb.org
Large Fire Map, Updated daily
Bridger-Teton National Forest fire info
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