(Fremont County, WY) – The Pack Trail Fire has grown to 89,186 acres as of Thursday, October 17, according to the latest update from the U.S Forest Service Bridger-Teton National Forest.
There are currently 618 personnel on scene, and the fire is 62% confined.
Deputy Operations Section Chief Trainee Kendal Wilson shares today’s overview of fire activity, and explains some common fire terminology in the video below.
The rest of today’s update is below.
Operations – Yesterday, on the north side, firefighters continued cleanup from a previous tactical firing operation. Helicopters continue to cool hotspots south of the 645 road. On the east side, crews continued to improve defensible space near structures in the Union Pass Subdivision. Near the 540 Road, the fire is holding within containment lines, but the abundant dead and down within the interior continues to burn with isolated torching. On the south side, fire was active and moved through mixed conifer stands along Union Pass Road near Buffalo Meadow. On the west flank, the fire continues to be active at upper elevations within the dry and dead timber. The wet, grassy meadows at lower elevation are providing a natural barrier where the fire moves slower. Due to the incoming winter weather, and safety hazards associated with driving at on icy roads, staffing a nightshift will be suspended going forward.
Safety – Teton Interagency Fire managers are maintaining the Very High Fire Danger Rating for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Shoshone National Forest , and the National Elk Refuge. Please use caution while driving these areas, especially on narrow secondary roads. Always expect to encounter fire vehicles and heavy equipment in and around the fire area. Check with WY-DOT for possible closures due to fire activity, especially if you are planning to travel on US-26 across the Continental Divide. Closures are not expected, but with active fire in the area checking status before travel is recommended.
Due to excessively dry fuels, any spark can ignite fire which can grow rapidly into a major incident. Residents and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution with fires or other possible ignition sources. Always build campfires away from dry grass, leaves, and overhanging branches to reduce the risk of spreading wildfire. Clear at least a 10-foot perimeter around your fire, removing any flammable material, and have enough water on hand to ensure your fire is dead out and cool to the touch before you go to sleep or leave the area.
“If you fly, we can’t.”Remember that flying a personal drone over a fire area during a temporary flight restriction is illegal and can be an extremely dangerous threat to both our aviators and firefighters on the ground.
Weather – Today’s departing cold front will bring a moderate to heavy amount of rain and snowfall over the fire area for the next two days. Today’s temperature will be 34-47 degrees with relative humidity’s between 43% and 60%. To learn more about air quality, visit Fire.AirNow.Gov.
Evacuations – Brooks Lake Lodge, Pinnacle Cabins, Falls Camp, and Long Creek have been reduced to a Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Warning. Level 3 “Go” evacuation orders remain in effect for Lava Mountain Lodge and McKenzie Highland Ranch. The Dunoir Road Corridor has been reduced to a Level 1 “Ready” Evacuation Warning.
See the Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook Page for alerts and updates. See the Teton County Emergency Management website updates and to sign up for emergency alerts through Everbridge.
Road Closures – The Union Pass Road is closed on the Pinedale Ranger District (BTNF) from Mosquito Lake to the Moon Lake Road on the Wind River District (SHO). Moon Lake Road is also closed.
Forest Closures – Closure Order #04-03-24-317 is in effect from October 14, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. through November 15, 2024 at 12:00 a.m. unless rescinded. This order supersedes previous orders, including #04-03-24-316, prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same described area.
For more information, visit: Facebook: USDA Forest Service – Bridger-Teton National Forest, USDA Forest Service – Shoshone National Forest Pack Trail Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-pack-trail-fire
Click here for all of County 10’s coverage of the Pack Trail/Fish Creek Fires.