(Dubois, WY) – Fire managers brought in additional resources and crews are continuing to work on suppressing the Leeds Creek Fire in the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
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 283 acres in size and is burning in mixed conifer and slash 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.
Resources assigned to the fire include a type 3 Incident Commander (IC), a helicopter, 2 dozers, 2 type 2 crews, 8 smoke jumpers, a wildland fire module and multiple fire engines. Eighty personnel are currently staffing the fire.
Crews are working to suppress the fire by using direct and indirect firefighting strategies. Fire managers are utilizing dozers to build fireline, keeping firefighters out of the extremely hazardous snags in the area. 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 fire danger rating for the Bridger-Teton National Forest is currently High. That means fires can start easily from most causes, and small fuels such as grasses and needles will ignite readily.