(Dubois, WY) – Fire crews continue efforts to suppress the Leeds Creek Fire in the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Fire managers and crews are working to reinforce established firelines and identify additional areas to suppress the fire using direct and indirect firefighting strategies. The Forest Service uses all available strategies and tools to suppress wildfires, and public and firefighter safety are the top priorities for fire managers.
The Leeds Creek Fire was reported at 10:47 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2024, by Forest Service staff, who spotted smoke from the Union Pass area. The fire is currently 981 acres in size and is burning in mixed conifer, areas of logging slash, and heavy dead and down fuels approximately 18 miles southwest of Dubois. Smoke from the fire may be visible from the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), Dubois and Pinedale. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Extremely hot and dry conditions combined with evening thunderstorms and outflow winds caused the fire to become more active yesterday, with torching and spotting contributing to the fire spread. Cooler temperatures are predicted today, with a chance of thunderstorms, precipitation and gusty winds in the afternoon and evening.
Resources assigned to the fire include a type 3 Incident Commander (IC), a helicopter, 3 dozers, 2 type 2 crews, 8 smoke jumpers, a wildland fire module and multiple fire engines. Eighty-fire personnel are currently staffing the fire.
A pending area closure order is expected for public and firefighter safety, and the public will be notified once a closure is in place.
An InciWeb page has been established for the Leeds Creek Fire. Click here to stay up to date on the fire.