(Fremont County, WY) – In a July 6 press release, the Fremont County Fire Protection District has shared additional details about the Twin Creek Fire southeast of Lander, as well as the 18 calls for service they received over the holiday weekend.
The full release from FCFPD Chief Ron Wempen is below.
Units from Fremont County Fire District Battalions have had a busy weekend during a 4-day period from Thursday through Sunday. FCFPD firefighters responded to eighteen (18) calls for service involving car crashes, electrical hazards, and vegetation fires. Vegetation fires accounted for eight (8) of the total calls, and we are happy to report that only two (2) fires were fireworks-related.
FCFPD would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the residents and visitors of our area in making this past weekend safer than we could have imagined. Celebrating responsibly made the weekend marvelous, even in the face of extreme fire danger.
Currently, all vegetation fires in Fremont County have been controlled, with only one that is contained and being completely extinguished.
The Twin Creek Fire located southeast of Lander below Beaver Rim currently has firefighters ensuring it is completely extinguished. It is not believed that this fire is a risk to escape this morning. The fire is located on BLM and State of Wyoming lands in the Jeffrey City Fire District. It is believed to have been caused by lightning and has burned 587.6 acres, not the 1200 initially thought.
The Twin Creek Fire was discovered by FCFPD firefighters from Battalion 3 Lander Rural while they were en route to assist Jeffrey City Firefighters with a car crash. Units from FCFPD immediately responded to this vegetation fire and requested additional help. A coordinated reponse and management effort began between FCFPD, Jeffrey City Fire District, the BLM, US Wildland Fire Service, the US Forest Service, the State of Wyoming Forestry Division, and the Fremont County Fire Warden to suppress the rapidly growing incident. Working with the State of Wyoming, the US Wildland Fire Service, and the County Fire Warden, numerous aircraft were ordered to deliver retardant and water drops to assist the firefighters on scene.
In all, over 14 engines responded from FCFPD, Jeffrey City, the BLM, US Wildland Fire Service, USFS, and the State of Wyoming.
FCFPD sent assistance from Battalion 3 Lander Rural, Battalion 10 Hudson, and staff from Headquarters to the incident. Some of those firefighters remain engaged in the suppression effort this morning.
Moving forward, FCFPD would like to ask our residents to not let down their guard in the face of current fire conditions. Forecasts call for the weather conditions to become worse as the week continues, producing extreme fire conditions in the area. Please help our firefighters to only have to react to mother nature created events, and limit human causes.
For information on wildland fire safety and preparedness, please visit Firewise USA here, or Fremont County Wildfire here.