(Wind River Canyon, WY) – The Saturday morning vegetation fire reported in the Wind River Canyon was caused by a train locomotive mechanical issue with the motor, Fremont County Fire Protection District Chief Ron Wempen told County 10 around 12 PM.
The fire is now burning at around 130 acres, Wempen added.
Crews were originally dispatched to a train locomotive that had a fire on board, Wempen went on to share, which was put out while FCFPD crews were en route. The locomotive was then moved to the Brannan boat ramp area in Boysen State Park.
Although the fire was extinguished on the train, it started a wildland vegetation fire along the railroad tracks in Wind River Canyon on the west side of the river.
While the fire has burned approximately 130 acres on that west canyon wall, Wempen said it is not currently threatening any structures or infrastructure.
“The fire has been taken over by the BIA, since it is on the Reservation,” Wempen added, and a Type 1 hand crew, along with two helicopters for air support, have been ordered and should be in the area as of this writing.
Wempen also said that they don’t expect the fire to “pose too much of an issue to anything at this current time,” but that there “will be fire crews on the scene, probably for the next 36 to 48 hours, probably until the weather event gets in here.”
Wempen was referring to the expected rain and snow moving into the area by the end of the weekend.
Wempen also asked the public to please not stop on the side of the road in the canyon, and to steer clear of areas where crews are staged.
