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Continuing News:
Wild Fires
Current information on wild fires near Pinedale, Wyoming, the western Wind River Mountains, the Wyoming Range, and the southern portion of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

BTNF Fire Restrictions

Fire Danger is Moderate
Partial Camp Fire Restrictions go in effect beginning Thursday, July 18
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Home | NIFC Current Wildfire Map | Bridger-Teton NF Fire Info | Teton Fires

Wild Fire Updates
Wednesday, July 17, 2002 -
1:30 pm

Latest News: Two New Fires
Two new small fires have been reported on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, one near Bondurant and the other near Whiskey Grove Campground in the upper Green River.
Bridger-Teton National Forest fire press releases

  • The Jenny Fire was spotted at 1:30 am approximately 3 miles east of Bondurant. This fire is currently 1/4 acre. Engine crews from the Bondurant Volunteer Fire Department and the Bridger-Teton National Forest fire crews are responding to it. Cause: Lightning
  • The Red Fire was spotted at 7:30 am this morning approximately 1 mile south of Whiskey Grove Campground in the upper Green River. This lightning caused fire is burning 1/10 of an acre. Six Bridger-Teton National Forest fire fighters are on this fire along with one Type I helicopter performing water bucket drops.
  • The Mule fire has been GPS mapped at 3,400 acres Wednesday moving east and north, with heavy spotting dropping into Mill Creek and Dry Beaver drainages. The Horse Creek/Merna road has been closed at the Merna junction for public safety while fire fighters work on this fire. Only residents and people with business in the area will be allowed in. Area closures now in effect for North & South Beaver, Dry Beaver, Lead and Horse Creek drainages and associated access routes. The fire danger will be elevated to Very High as of Tuesday and partial fire restrictions will go into effect on Thursday. More Info | Fire Restrictions
  • Several fires are currently burning in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Fire restrictions are also in effect on BLM, State lands and Sublette County.
  • Geomac Fire Map web site

  • Wyoming BLM Fire Page

  • See the Bridger-Teton National Forest fire press releases for more BTNF fire info.

Mule Fire Map

Mule Creek Fire Map
Click for larger map

Mule Fire Perimiter Map (363K PDF)

General Mule Fire Area Map (303K PDF)

PDF images require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Note that you can zoom in on the PDF to get a closer view and imag

Local Fires at a Glance

Mule Fire:
Horse Creek, Big Piney Ranger District
Size 3,400 acres, 15% contained
Cause: Lightning

Jenny Fire:
Big Piney RD, 3 miles east of Bondurant
Size: 1/4 acre
Cause: Lightning

Red Fire:
Pinedale RD, 1 mile S of Whiskey Grove Campground in the upper Green River
Size: 1/10 acre
Cause: Lightning

More Current Fire Information:
Two new fires were reported on the Bridger-Teton National Forest on the Big Piney and Pinedale Ranger Districts. The lightning-caused Jenny Fire is currently 1/4 acre in size burning approximately 3 miles east of Bondurant. Crews from the Bondurant Volunteer fire department and Bridger-Teton National Forest are on this fire, supported by one helicopter.
    The new Red Fire is also a small lightning-caused fire was spotted early this morning approximately one mile south of Whiskey Grove Campground in the upper Green River area of the Pinedale Ranger District. Crews are being supported by a helicopter performing water drops. As of around 10 am, this fire was only 1/10th of an acre.

    The Mule Fire size has been reduced from 4,000 acres to 3,400 acres due to more accurate GPS mapping. Erratic winds pushed the fire over the northern ridge into Mill Creek and Dry Beaver Creek drainages Monday night and Tuesday. Heavy spotting continued to occur east of the fire, fueled partly by thunderstorm cells that have brought very strong and erratic winds. So far, crews have been able to hold the southern edge of the fire on Horse Creek Road. The smoke from the fire drifted heavily into Pinedale during the late afternoon Tuesday due to the wind shifts caused by the thunderstorm cell activity. Fire behavior has been erratic with torching, crowning and short range spotting.
   The fire is located approximately 20 miles west of Daniel with its eastern edge six miles west of the Sherman Guard Station. It is one mile north of Prospect Peak and approximately one mile south of Horse Mountain on the Big Piney Ranger District. The fire is being called 15% contained and is moving into stands of more commercially desireable lodgepole. No structures are currently threatened by the fire. Rural homes are located several miles to the east and to the north of the fire, which has prompted the fire command team to start a structural protection analysis as a precautionary step in case the fire begins to threaten those areas. See the PDF links above for detailed maps showing the current fire perimeter and an area map showing a broader view of the fire in relation to Daniel, Hoback Ranches and Beaver Ridge.
  
Fire restrictions will go into effect beginning Thursday, July 18th on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and in Grand Teton National Park. The fire danger has been elevated to Very High as of Tuesday, July 16th. Daily Forest Service press release updates for this fire are available from the Bridger-Teton National Forest fire page. For more information, contact the Bridger-Teton National Forest at (307) 739-5500.

Other area fires:
The public is encouraged to report any new smoke columns they see. You can keep up with where the fires are burning by checking in on the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Large Fire update page and Fire Map. Fires are also now burning in Yellowstone National Park. The Teton Fires web site also has interagency fire information links for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, www.tetonfires.com.

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Click for Pinedale, Wyoming Forecast

CURRENT FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Bridger-Teton National Forest:
Partial fire restrictions go into effect on the Bridger-Teton National Forest beginning Thursday, July 18th. Back country users are reminded that campfires are not allowed above timberline in the wilderness at any time. Fireworks are prohibited at all times. Restrictions

Sublette County
Lighting fireworks is prohibited within Sublette County.

BLM:
Fire restrictions began July 4th. No open fires except within developed recreation sites. Regulations regarding smoking, operating a chain saw, and welder are in effect. No fireworks.

State:
Restrictions went into effect on State lands on June 11th.
No open fires, barbecue grills or fireworks on any lands or facilities administered by the Game and Fish Department.

Links to earlier Fire Info:
July 16, 2002
July 15, 2002
July 14, 2002
July 13, 2002
July 6, 2002
July 5, 2002
July 4, 2002
July 3, 2002
July 2, 2002
July 1, 2002
June 30, 2002
June 29, 2002
2001 Fire Updates
2000 Fire Updates

For More Info on the Web

Teton Fires
Bridger-Teton National Forest

National Interagency Fire Center NIFC
NIFC Wildland Fire Map

Where to get more information:
Bridger-Teton NF Fire Info
Mary Lendman or Jason Anderson
307-739-5542 or 307-739-5564

Pinedale Ranger District, BTNF
307-367-4326

Big Piney Ranger District, BTNF
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.



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 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 need to report a fire or have concerns. Be aware that 911 may route you to a different area other than Pinedale depending on where you are calling from.
 


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This Pinedale Online fire update is written by Dawn Svalberg from information obtained from the Pinedale Ranger District, the Jackson office of the US Forest Service Bridger-Teton National Forest, and online sources.  Copyright 2002.

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