(Fremont County, WY) – Fremont County Fire Protection District Chief Ron Wempen has shared that the two fires that began Thursday evening in the Copper Mountain area (east of Boysen State Park and Wind River Canyon) were caused by lightning.
The first reports indicated only one fire, but Chief Wempen confirmed there were two: the Three Tree Fire, which grew to only 0.1 acres and is contained, and the nearby Perry Cabin Fire, which is not yet contained. The fire reporting app Watch Duty indicates the Perry Cabin Fire is 1.75 acres in size, as of the last report shared this morning at 9:02 AM.
“It is on a very steep and pretty inaccessible part of the mountain,” Chief Wempen shared. “Both fires are on BLM property with State of Wyoming and private adjacent.”
Chief Wempen said response included units from Shoshoni Battalion 14, Missouri Valley Battalion 4, and Riverton Central Battalion 1, as well as US Wildland Fire Service units. All Fremont County units are back in service at the stations, Chief Wempen added, while the US Wildland Fire Service units remain on scene.
Chief Wempen also shared details about a grass fire that occurred on Wednesday, in which a wood debris pile caught fire after a resident had been cutting/welding in an uncleared area. It was cleared by Lander Rural Battalion 3 and Hudson Battalion 10.
Additionally, Chief Wempen informed County 10 that the FCFPD has been informed that some residents are being told they can “discharge (fireworks) on irrigated ag land.”
“That is not true at all,” Chief Wempen said. “Fire is allowed on irrigated ag land to burn vegetation between 6-10 AM only, by calling in the activity to the dispatch center, and remaining on site with water to extinguish the fire until it is cold.”
For more details on the County fire restrictions, click here.