Wyoming wildfires

[NJFFSA16]

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A series of violent thunderstorms sparked
four small wildfires that firefighters were scrambling Monday to
put out.
Fire crews opted to fight three of the blazes - which started in
or near the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area - because of the
uncertainty of the upcoming fire season, said Rod Dykehouse, forest
fire management officer for the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Crews were still determining Monday whether to let one of the
fires burn as a wildland management tool, forest spokeswoman Mary
Lendman said.
The Teepee fire, between Teepee and Goosewing creeks south of
the Gros Ventre River, started Friday and burned about just over an
acre before it was fully contained Monday, Lendman said.
"They're letting the inside burn itself out," she said.
Dykehouse said the fire displayed some unusual behavior.
"It was consuming the small logs pretty good - what we call the
100-hour fuels," he said. "It was a little surprising for this
time of year."
U.S. Forest Service firefighters quickly controlled two more
fires discovered Saturday near Sam Peak and on Crystal Butte above
Jackson.
Crews on Monday were still determining what to do with the Two
Echo fire, also in the Gros Ventre Wilderness. That blaze had been
difficult to locate, occasionally sending up puffs of smoke,
Dykehouse said.
"They're still doing some analysis and will be determining
whether they're going to let it go or if suppression is
warranted," Lendman said.
Officials did not know the size of that blaze.
Fire managers said they aren't certain how this year's summer
fire season will unfold. Some blazes have the potential to burn for
a long time. Should the year be dry, that could pose problems,
Dykehouse said.
"We're not sure how the season's going to shape up," he said.
"Even with a wet spring, we're still coming out of three to four
years of drought. A lot of the moisture is getting absorbed in the
soil. Things are drying out pretty fast out there."
This weekend's wildfires were started by two major thunderstorms
that swept over the valley Friday afternoon, the first bringing
winds up to 60 mph. Marble-sized hail and heavy rain were also
reported.
"We had quite a bit of lightning move through the area,"
Dykehouse said.
-----
On the Net:
Bridger-Teton National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/btnf/
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/

[NJFFSA16]

Story, Wyoming

STORY, Wyo. (AP) - Trees and brush have begun to be cleared to
shield this woodsy town from a potentially catastrophic wildfire.
Bighorn National Forest crews have begun felling small trees and
removing material under large pines and firs in a 600-acre area
just west of town, according to Tongue River District Ranger Craig
Yancey.
A related project is a 2-mile-long fire break on private land
next to the forest. The work on that project will begin when the
ground dries up, according to John Lunbeck, a Story Fire District
board member.
"It's been an awfully wet spring and we're still waiting to dry
out up here," he said.
Lunbeck is coordinator of the Story Wildfire Assessment and
Mitigation Plan, or SWAMP.
The fire district has received $135,000 in federal grants to
thin trees and understory in a 300-foot-wide section along the
forest boundary.
Lunbeck said four private landowners have agreed to have trees
cleared from their property and negotiations are continuing with
four others.
He said Story, located next to the national forest, has about
600 homes. He estimated that 30-40 percent of homeowners have taken
steps to protect their homes against wildfires.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

High Risk

High fire danger forecast for parts of Wyoming

(Cheyenne-AP) -- A new report shows southwestern Wyoming and the
Big Horn Basin are at the greatest risk for wildfires in the state
this year.
But the National Interagency Fire Center says that danger will
likely shift entirely to the western half of Wyoming later this
summer. The report forecast wildfire danger between June and
September.
Forecasters say southwestern Wyoming and the Big Horn Basin are
much drier than other areas and, therefore, are at greater fire
danger.
Western Wyoming, however, is expected to become more susceptible
to wildfires later this summer. That's when experts say grass fed
by this spring's abundant moisture could dry to tinder.
Wyoming has fared better than other states so far this wildfire
season. Large fires have already charred thousands of acres in
Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and other states.
Just 126 acres have burned in Wyoming so far this year. That
compares to more than 14 thousand acres burned by the Hensel fire
in June 2002.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Human-caused fires on the rise
scho
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - With fire danger rising across the West,
officials in the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Thursday reported
an increasing number of wildfires caused by fireworks and abandoned
campfires.
Since April, people have caused 46 fires in the forest and a
bordering area in eastern Idaho, forest supervisor Kniffy Hamilton
said.
"A total of 15 abandoned campfires, three of which were outside
the ring, were found on the Bridger-Teton National Forest over the
Fourth of July weekend," he said.
The campfires, rangers said, could have been potentially
disastrous.
Officials have also seen an increasing number of fires started
with fireworks, which are illegal on public lands. Violators can
face fines and even prison time.
"The danger of wildfires at this time of year is very high, and
sparks from even a small type of firework could start a major
wildfire," said Kevin Conran, a fire mitigation and education
specialist with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in Idaho.
Bridger-Teton employees and the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire
Center were visiting campsites throughout the area to teach
visitors how to responsibly tend campfires.
Such fires should be built in a safe spot, not left unattended
and be cold to the touch before leaving the area, fire management
officer Rod Dykehouse said.
Campers should always keep a bucket of water and shovel nearby.


(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

July 14th

By The Associated Press
After a wet spring and a delayed start, wildfire season finally
reared its ugly head in Wyoming on Monday as a pair of fires closed
roads in the southern and western parts of the state.
Around 4:20 p.m. Monday, a fire southwest of Woods Hole forced
officials to close Wyoming 230 south to the Colorado line and
Colorado 127 south to Colorado 125, a distance of about 25 miles.
"I understand that most of the fire, if not all of it, is on
the east or south side of the highway," Becky Rine, spokeswoman
for Medicine Bow National Forest, said Monday night.
She said the fire was reported around 1 p.m. and a
reconnaissance plane was dispatched to determine the fire's size.
A tanker plane and a helicopter were meanwhile sent to back up
several crews of firefighters on the ground. "We had extremely
well-trained crews - out of Laramie, in fact - who were on it
immediately," she said.
Laramie is about 30 miles northeast of the fire.
In Snake River Canyon in western Wyoming, firefighters continued
battling a 2,540-acre fire that began over the weekend. Althouth
the fire more than doubled in size Monday, clearing smoke enabled
the Wyoming Department of Transportation to reopen U.S. 26-89
between Alpine and Hoback Junction after closing the highway
starting Saturday.
The 23-mile section of highway is heavily traveled by tourists
and by people who live in Alpine and work in Jackson. About 8,000
vehicles a day travel the road in the summer.
"We're in good shape now in terms of visibility," said Richard
Paulson, spokesman for the Transportation Department.
Smoke from the East Table fire, located about 23 miles south of
Jackson, could be seen from several of the area's small towns.
"It's a nasty little fire," said Wade Grant, a volunteer
firefighter. "When it gets torching, it just roars like a jet."
The fire was 10 percent contained. About 330 personnel were on
the scene, including 13 crews of 20 firefighters each, according to
Bridger-Teton National Forest spokesman Jay Anderson.
"We had pretty moderate fire growth today - our conditions
weren't nearly as bad as yesterday," Anderson said.
Afternoon winds pushed embers up to a quarter-mile ahead of the
fire.
The fire forced officials to close three Bridger-Teton National
Forest campgrounds and suspend fishing and rafting on the stretch
of the Snake River between Hoback Junction and Alpine because of
smoke.
Ralph Boyack, of Anthony, Idaho, said he and his group barely
managed to grab their stuff from East Table campground on Saturday
after completing their float trip.
"It was pretty crazy," Boyack said. "While we were waiting to
be allowed through 1/8to the campground 3/8 we watched as some of those
trees would just burst up into flames all the way to the top."
The fire was not threatening any structures, visitor services or
recreation opportunities in Jackson Hole or Grand Teton and
Yellowstone national parks to the north.

----
On the Net: http://www.tetonfires.com

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

July 17th

Wildfires were burning on more than 6,100 acres in Wyoming on
Thursday. Some of the major blazes:

East Table Fire
Started: July 12.
Location: 23 miles south of Jackson.
Size: 3,400 acres.
Containment: 30 percent.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 330 fire personnel, six helicopters and one engine.
Cause: Unintentional by humans.
-----
Gramm Fire
Started: July 14.
Location: 35 miles southwest of Laramie.
Size: 729 acres.
Containment: 30 percent.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 135 fire personnel with another 40 ordered, and two
helicopters.
Cause: Under investigation.
-----
Deep Lake Fire
Started: July 16.
Location: 30 miles northwest of Cody.
Size: 1,000 acres.
Containment: None.
Damage: None.
On Scene: One helicopter, seven engines. Another helicopter on
order.
Cause: Lightning.
-----
Douglas Fire
Started: July 16.
Location: 20 miles southwest of Sundance.
Size: 800 acres.
Containment: Unknown.
Damage: None.
On Scene: Six fire departments.
Cause: Lightning.
-----
Otter Fire
Started: July 15.
Location: 20 miles northwest of Kaycee.
Size: 100 acres.
Containment: None reported. Full containment expected Friday.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 80 fire personnel, two engines ordered.
Cause: Lightning.
----
Six Mile Fire
Started: July 16.
Location: Near the Platte River Wilderness Area.
Size: 40 acres.
Containment: None.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 20 fire personnel, with two more crews ordered.
Cause: Lightning.
----
Amethyst Fire
Started: July 15.
Location: Near Amethyst Mountain east of the Grand Canyon of the
Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park.
Size: 75 acres.
Containment: None.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 20 fire personnel and one helicopter.
Cause: Lightning.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

July 17th

By SARAH COOKE
Associated Press Writer
A Boy Scout troop stranded by a swiftly moving wildfire near the
Montana state line was rescued Thursday as firefighters continued
to protect a small subdivision in southeastern Wyoming threatened
by another blaze.

The 15 Boy Scouts and their leaders were rescued from the
Shoshone National Forest by a helicopter flown in to battle the
blaze 35 miles northwest of Cody. The fire grew from 100 acres to
1,000 acres overnight.
The Scouts from Laramie were not in any danger but became
stranded after authorities closed a trail near Deep Lake where they
were camping, forest spokeswoman Susie Douglas said.
"The fire is going away from their location," she said.
Ignited by lightning Tuesday night, the Deep Lake fire was
burning in dense timber and being driven by strong winds, producing
a large cloud of smoke visible throughout the northern Big Horn
Basin and southern Montana.
It was about two miles from any structures, though seven engines
conducted preliminary structure protection Thursday. Douglas did
not know how many structures were in the fire's vicinity.

In southeastern Wyoming, calmer winds helped 135 firefighters in
their attempts to save 10 homes threatened by the Gramm fire in the
Medicine Bow National Forest.
The 729-acre fire had crept within 400 yards of the homes, which
were evacuated Monday, but bulldozers had dug a line around the
community southwest of Laramie and no structures had burned, forest
spokeswoman Becky Rine said.
Another 100 homes within five miles of the blaze were on standby
to evacuate but were not considered immediately threatened, she
said.
Miller Lake campground and a public post and pole harvesting
area, where the fire started, were closed Thursday for public
safety reasons.
"The good news is that winds are predicted to be light today,
which is a good thing," Rine said. "However, the high
temperatures are going to make things dicey."
The fire was 30 percent contained.
A new fire erupted 11 miles west of the Gramm fire near the
Platte River Wilderness Area, and had burned 40 acres by late
afternoon. No structures were threatened, and 20 firefighters were
battling the lightning-caused blaze known as the Six Mile fire,
which started Wednesday, Rine said.
Firefighters in western Wyoming continued to dig lines around
the 3,400-acre East Table fire that started Saturday about 23 miles
south of Jackson. The fire was 30 percent contained, and crews
expected full containment by Sunday, fire information officer Tina
Boehle said.
The fire, being fought by 330 firefighters, was not threatening
any structures, visitor services or recreation opportunities in
Jackson Hole or Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks to the
north.
The Snake River was reopened to recreational use Wednesday after
three days of closure, but Bailey Lake and several area trails
remained off limits to the public, Boehle said.
The fire was caused unintentionally by humans.
Three wildfires totaling 75 acres were burning in Yellowstone
National Park, but officials had closed only the Specimen Ridge
Trail on the park's northeast side to the public, park spokeswoman
Cheryl Matthews said. The rest of the park remained open.
One of the fires was being allowed to burn, and another had been
fully contained by Wednesday at less than one acre, Matthews said.
Due to the high fire danger, Superintendent Suzanne Lewis on
Thursday banned smoking and backcountry campfires in the park until
further notice. Campfires confined to fire rings were still allowed
in developed areas.
A 100-acre fire sparked by lightning was burning in the Big Horn
Mountains about 20 miles northwest of Kaycee. No structures were
threatened and crews hoped to contain it by Friday, weather
permitting, said Steve Haines, chief of the Powder River Fire
District.
"There's a lot of thick timber so it's real dangerous to put
people in there to work right now," he said.

----
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

7/20

By MEAD GRUVER
Associated Press Writer
More firefighters arrived at a wildfire as it blackened more of
the heavily forested, rugged backcountry northwest of Cody.
Winds gusting to 20 mph fanned the Deep Lake fire to 6,000 acres
Sunday, an increase of about 500 acres from the day before. Flames
crossed a fire line on the northeast edge of the fire but were
pushed back.
The Southern California Team 2 took over management of the fire
Sunday. Meanwhile, one federal Type II hand crew from Minnesota
arrived, joining a Type II crew from Pennsylvania that arrived
Saturday.
A total of about 75 firefighters were on the scene.
"We're glad to be here, we're here to help, we're looking
forward to working with the communities in the area," said Ralph
Domanski, incident commander for the new management team.
Outgoing Incident Commander Russ Wenke told firefighters to be
careful where the fire had pushed onto grass and sagebrush slopes
and where flames can react to the wind and spread quickly.
One firefighter suffered a twisted knee Saturday - the only
injury at the fire so far.
Two helicopters were dropping water on the fire's southern and
northern flanks. A larger helicopter that was requested arrived and
put to work getting firefighters and equipment into the
backcountry.
The fire was 8 percent contained.
Continued hot, dry weather were complicating firefighters'
efforts at the Deep Lake fire and the East Table fire 23 miles
south of Jackson.
Firefighters were gradually getting the upper hand on the East
Table fire. Since Saturday, the fire had not grown beyond 3,595
acres and containment was up slightly to 65 percent.
Full containment was predicted for Tuesday and the fire was
expected to be completely under control by July 30.
"The fire is looking better than we expected in some areas.
We're a day ahead of where we expected to be," said field
operations supervisor Rex Miller.
Smoke continued to be visible along the Snake River. Motorists
in Snake River Canyon were urged to use caution due to the smoke
and helicopter operations.
"We're very concerned that people will be distracted by all the
activity in the area. Please slow down and pay attention to the
other guys out there," safety officer Mose Shrum said.
Much of the uncontained section of the fire was in very steep
terrain with thick vegetation.
Firefighters on a pair of wildfires southwest of Laramie got a
little help from rain Saturday night and Sunday. By day's end they
hoped to have the 760-acre Gramm fire 60 percent contained and the
200-acre Six Mile fire 30 percent contained.
Most of the rain fell on the Gramm fire.
"Right now we're getting another major rain cell over the top
of it - We got one about an hour ago," fire information officer
Dave Slepnikoff said Sunday afternoon.
Some of the 179 firefighters on the Gramm fire were being moved
to the Six Mile fire just east of the North Platte Wilderness.
Full containment of the Gramm fire was expected Monday or
Tuesday and the Six Mile fire was expected to be completely
contained Wednesday.
"It all depends on the weather. If we keep getting rain it
could be earlier and if we get more hot, dry weather it could be
later," Slepnikoff said.
The only major new fire in Wyoming was near Edgerton, about 70
miles north of Casper. The Pine Ridge fire had burned more than 800
acres.
A sheriff's dispatcher said she had not heard of anyone being
sent to the area Sunday.
Six wildfires were burning in Yellowstone National Park. All
were small except the 298-acre Amethyst fire, which has prompted
officials to close the Specimen Ridge trail in the northeast part
of the park.
The fire was 40 percent contained Sunday.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

7/21

By The Associated Press
Gusty winds Monday were expected to test fire lines built by
firefighters who made good progress in trying to contain two fires
burning in the Medicine Bow National Forest in southeast Wyoming.
Elsewhere in the state, firefighters made progress against fires
burning northwest of Cody and south of Jackson.
The Gramm fire southwest of Laramie was 70 percent contained,
while the nearby Six Mile fire is 60 percent contained.
However, fire spokesman David Slepnikoff said winds gusting up
to 25 mph were projected to develop Monday afternoon.
"If we get through this pretty good ... I think we'll be
rolling on," Slepnikoff said.
If the lines hold, some of the 180 firefighters on the Gramm
fire and 130 at the Six Mile fire should be able to begin leaving
Tuesday, he said.
In that case, containment of the Gramm fire is predicted for
Wednesday while containment of the Six Mile fire is expected
Thursday.
The U.S. Forest Service did impose fire restrictions in the
Medicine Bow-Routt national forests and the Thunder Basin National
Grassland. No open fires are allowed outside fire grates in
developed campgrounds. Stoves and grills are permitted.
The Deep Lake fire northwest of Cody that has burned 5,985 acres
was 15 percent contained Monday morning - up from 8 percent on
Sunday.
The fire is moving toward grass and sage brush where
firefighters can better manage the fire, said fire information
officer Jeff Wenger.
"Overnight, it pretty much stayed in check, which allowed us to
tie in some lines," Wenger said.
There 126 people working the fire.
The East Table fire 23 miles southwest of Jackson was 75 percent
contained Monday, and firefighters were working to build the last
two miles of a fire line around it. Containment was expected
Tuesday.¼
"Presently, our greatest concern is firefighter fatigue. ...
Many of our firefighters have been out on the line for a week
now," said incident commander Paul Broyles.
The fire has burned 3,595 acres, and a few backcountry areas in
the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the immediate vicinity of the
fire remained closed.
The Yellowstone fires have resulted in the closure of one trail
in the northeast part of the park. Otherwise the Yellowstone fires
are small and in remote areas and have not affected any of the
park's services or tourist areas.
No structures have been lost in any of the Wyoming fires.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Two wildfires in northern Wyoming kept firefighters busy Tuesday
while crews on three other fires in the western and southern parts
of the state were reassigned elsewhere after the blazes were
contained.
The Big Spring fire on Bureau of Land Management land in Johnson
County nearly doubled in size to 1,300 acres, fire information
officer Lesley Collins said.
The fire, which was only 10 percent contained, was being battled
by a helicopter and 193 personnel, with more on the way.
"By the end of today there will be 250 people," Collins said.
On Tuesday, firefighters worked to shore up lines on the north
side of the fire and to protect six homes about a mile from the
fire and three ranches in a canyon about a half mile away.
The fire was burning in heavy stands of pine and pinyon juniper.
Full containment was expected by Aug. 1.
At the Deep Lake fire near the Montana state line, firefighters
improved containment to 22 percent even though "fire behavior was
very erratic and intense at times" on Monday, said fire spokesman
Gordon Warren.
The fire grew slightly to 6,020 acres.
On Tuesday, firefighters were working to build lines along the
northern boundary of the fire, Warren said.
No structures were threatened.
Crews were pulled off the lines at two fires in the Medicine Bow
National Forest southwest of Laramie and at a fire in the
Bridger-Teton National Forest south of Jackson.
Some firefighters remained at the fires to put out any remaining
hot spots and rehabilitate fire lines and burned areas.
In the Medicine Bow forest, crews contained the 759-acre Gramm
fire ahead of schedule Tuesday night after containing the 200-acre
Six Mile fire Monday, fire spokeswoman Becky Rine said.
Lines around both fires survived gusty winds Tuesday, though a
few flare-ups occurred inside them. Officials reopened Pelton Creek
campground, but other closures in the area remained in effect.
"Even though the fires are 100 percent contained there will
still be crews on them probably through the weekend dealing with
interior hot spots and watching the lines," Rine said.
About 150 firefighters were pulled off the fire lines Tuesday
and sent elsewhere, leaving 190 personnel to battle the blazes.
Also Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management imposed fire
restrictions in Sweetwater, Lincoln, Teton and Sublette counties.
Similar bans existed in the Medicine Bow-Routt and Bridger-Teton
national forests, the Thunder Basin National Grassland and Grand
Teton and Yellowstone national parks.
No open fires were allowed outside fire grates in developed
campgrounds under the bans. Stoves and closed grills were
permitted. Violators face up to six months in prison and $5,000 to
$10,000 in fines.
In western Wyoming, the East Table fire 23 miles south of
Jackson was fully contained Tuesday night after burning 3,595
acres, fire spokeswoman Barbara Bassler said.
It was expected to be fully extinguished by June 30, she said.
The fire has cost $2.8 million to date, while the Gramm fire
cost $1.5 million, the Amethyst fire in Yellowstone $450,000 and
the Deep Lake fire $300,000. Cost estimates were not available for
other blazes.
Several fires were burning in remote areas of Yellowstone
National Park. The largest fire was 308 acres at 50 percent
containment. The other fires were no more than three acres in size.
Major park services and attractions were not affected.
A 600-acre fire was also burning 16 miles southeast of Newcastle
in the Black Hills National Forest on the South Dakota side of the
state line.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

7/23

BUFFALO, Wyo. (AP) - Eight mountain homes were evacuated
Wednesday because of an encroaching wildfire just outside the
Bighorn National Forest in northern Wyoming.
The blaze had grown to 1,500 acres and was moving northwesterly
within a half-mile of the homes, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
spokeswoman Lesley Collins said.
"With the rough terrain and topography and lack of resources,
they're just having a hard time trying to contain it," she said.
As 47 major fires burn in 11 Western states, manpower and
equipment is spread thin.
About 250 firefighters were battling the Big Spring fire that
started from lightning Saturday about 20 miles southwest of Buffalo
and was torching pinyon, ponderosa pine and juniper.
A federal firefighting team arrived Wednesday and was expected
to take over management Thursday, Collins said. The fire was 30
percent contained.
Temperatures were in the 90s and relative humidities in the
teens, making the task for firefighters even more challenging.
The homes that were evacuated are in the Mountain Top Estates on
Billy Creek Road between Billy Creek and Poison Creek, about 10
miles due west of Interstate 25.
"They're not big homes where people live all the time," said
Alice Cash, an employee of the Johnson County assessor's office.
"They're all seasonal homes. There's no permanent residences up
there."
Other homes lie to the south of the fire, but crews believe they
were fairly well protected by a strong fire line, Collins said.
Two helicopters were dropping water and two air tankers were
showering the fire with retardant.
Also in Johnson County, a new fire broke out about seven miles
south of Story in the Ditch Creek area, measuring 50 acres.
Elsewhere, the Deep Lake fire 30 miles northwest of Cody was
burning in rugged, steep terrain. It had charred more than 6,000
acres and was 22 percent contained.
Firefighters were trying to keep the fire from making a run down
a steep slope toward a few ranches and homes.
In Yellowstone National Park, a lightning-caused fire in the
northeast part of the park was 90 percent contained after burning
315 acres. No structures were threatened in the park.
None of the fires in Wyoming has had a significant impact on
tourism locations or activities, and all major roads and state and
national parks are open, a state tourism official said Wednesday.
"Fire activity has been about normal with only small, localized
activity mostly in more remote or off-the-beaten path areas with
little or no impact on tourism activities or parks," Diane Shober,
director of Wyoming Travel and Tourism, said. "Wyoming is such a
large state most visitors are probably not aware of any fire
activity."
The travel division has added a link to its Web site to provide
travelers with current fire information.

----
On the Net:
Wyoming Tourism: http://www.wyomingtourism.org
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

July 24th

100-degree weather heats up Big Spring fire

(Buffalo-AP) -- Gusty winds and hot temperatures are adding to
the difficulty of containing wildfire in the the Big Horn Mountains
that's now grown by about 600 acres.
The Big Spring fire was started by lightning Saturday. Crews
have contained about 45 percent of the fire, which grew to about
26-hundred acres.
Some 400 firefighters are on the scene, trying to keep the blaze
from reaching dozens of homes at the top of a canyon.
Johnson County Sheriff Stephen Kozisek (KOH'-zih-check) says the
homes have been evacuated and two roads into the area remain
closed, along with two adjacent Forest Service roads.
The sheriff says crews have lit backburns in Poison Creek and
Robinson canyons in hopes of eliminating volatile fuels -- and
slowing the fire's spread.
Another fire in Johnson County -- seven miles southwest of Story
in the Bighorn National Forest -- remained about 350 acres tonight
and is now ten percent contained.
About 29 firefighters are on scene. No structures are
threatened, but officials say the area contains heavy stands of
lodgepole pine and has the potential to grow significantly.
Elsewhere, the Deep Lake fire 30 miles northwest of Cody has
charred 65-hundred acres and is now 35 percent contained.
About 220 firefighters are on scene, and spokesman Jim Wilkins
says more are on the way. He says crews are fairly confident that
fire lines will hold on the eastern flank -- enough to protect
about four threatened ranch homes.
Wilkins says firefighters will remain in a defensive mode until
more help arrives.
The cause of the Deep Lake fire remains under investigation.
In the northeastern portion of Yellowstone National Park, a
lightning-caused fire is 90-percent contained after burning 315
acres. No structures are threatened or tourist facilities in the
park are threatened, although one backcountry trail is closed.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

7/27

Red Point fire rages southeast of Newcastle

(Newcastle-AP) -- Firefighters have been gaining the upper hand
on wildfires around Wyoming, except for one wildfire on the South
Dakota line southeast of Newcastle.
The Red Point fire swelled from 96-hundred acres from yesterday
to today (Sunday). Even so, firefighters say they've got the fire
40 percent contained and expect to havee it fully contained
Wednesday.
Three air tankers, four helicopters, eight bulldozers and 643
firefighters aree fighting the fire.
In the mountains northwest of Cody, firefighters are handing the
battle against the Deep Lake fire back to those who were the first
to fight it over a week ago.
Fire information officer Jim Wilkins says the six-thousand,
886-acre fire has burned down considerably and it's now 55 percent
contained.
About 20 miles southwest of Buffalo, firefighters have contained
80 percent of the 27-hundred-acre Big Spring fire. Roads in the
area are reopening and special protection is no longer needed for
11 cabins that were threatened earlier.
Likewise, containment of the 370-acre Ditch Creek fire five
miles outside Story has grown to 25 percent. Officials say the fire
has been active on its west side and two crews have been sent to
work there.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

7/28

NEWCASTLE, Wyo. (AP) - A fire on the edge of the Black Hills
grew by another 1,500 acres Monday as it burned grass and timber
southeast of Newcastle.
But fire officials were confident they were gaining the upper
hand on the 17,000-acre Red Point Fire, which was 60 percent
contained.
"It's finally starting to behave," fire information officer
Brenda Bowen said Monday evening.
A large concentration of people worked on the north end of the
fire, which had been the most active, and those efforts seemed to
be paying off she said. Successful burnouts were conducted Monday
to reduce fuels for the fire.
Nearly all of the blaze is in an unpopulated, remote area of
Custer County, S.D., on the western edge of the Black Hills
National Forest. A small portion of the fire has crossed into
Wyoming.
A voluntary evacuation of some homeowners on the South Dakota
side was lifted midmorning Monday.
In northwest Wyoming, a new fire broke out in the Snake River
Canyon about 15 miles south of Hoback Junction and two miles
northwest of the river's West Table boat ramp.
Forty-one firefighters were working the blaze, aided by two
helicopters making water drops, Bridger-Teton National Forest
officials said.
The Wolf Fire started about 6 p.m. Sunday. The cause was not
immediately determined.
"The fire danger for the Bridger-Teton is listed at very
high," Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton said. "We have initiated
partial fire restrictions ... for the Forest as a result of the
weather and fuel moisture content."
The fire was burning sub-alpine fir and sending flaming embers
ahead, creating new fires ahead of the main blaze.
The blaze is near the site of the 3,595-acre East Table fire,
which started July 12 and was contained July 22.
Elsewhere, progress was made in containing several fires that
have been burning in the northern part of the state.
About 250 firefighters are making significant progress in
containing the Ditch Creek fire outside Story. The 370-acre fire
was 60 percent contained on Monday, up from 25 percent on Sunday,
and full containment was expected by Thursday. No structures are
threatened.
In the mountains northwest of Cody, the Deep Lake fire is 55
percent contained after burning 6,886 acres. Firefighters were
handing the battle back to those who were the first to fight it
over a week ago.
About 20 miles southwest of Buffalo, firefighters have contained
90 percent of the 2,700-acre Big Spring fire, where rain fell
Saturday and Sunday nights. Full containment was expected Tuesday.
Roads in the area were reopening and special protection was no
longer needed for 11 cabins that had been threatened.
On the Red Point fire, full containment is expected by late
Wednesday, Bowen said.
The number of people battling the fire rose to 877 and the cost
of fighting it to $2.1 million.
The fire, started July 21 by lightning, is the first large blaze
this season in the Black Hills.
No homes have been damaged; however, a historic cabin was
destroyed.

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On the Net: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

7/29

By The Associated Press
Firefighters quickly pounced on a pair of new fires that broke
out in the Bridger-Teton National Forest of western Wyoming.
The Wolf fire, which started Sunday by lightning in Snake River
Canyon, was extinguished Tuesday and limited to just one acre. The
fire was near the site of the 3,595-acre East Table fire, which
started July 12 and was contained July 22.
A second fire that burned one-tenth of an acre at the border of
Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest was
also quickly contained.
Elsewhere, firefighters were tending to the remnants of several
fires that have been burning in the northern part of the state.
About 268 firefighters had 85 percent of the 370-acre Ditch
Creek fire outside Story contained, with full containment expected
Thursday. No structures are threatened from the fire, which has
cost $813,000 to fight.
"We're pretty confident that the containment lines will hold,
but there's always a watch out when there's a front coming in,"
information officer Bill Rice said.
The ravines forming the Ditch Creek and South Piney Creek
drainages are steep, rocky, full of dry vegetation and difficult to
hike into, he said.
Several roads and trails are closed near the fire, including the
area from Little Goose Campground south to the Middle Fork of Rock
Creek, and from the Bighorn National Forest boundary west to the
Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary.
The Deep Lake fire northwest of Cody was 55 percent contained
after burning 6,886 acres and would likely remain at that level
until rain or snow falls, said Rick Connell, acting fire management
officer.
"For most of the rest of the perimeter we don't expect it to do
much," Connell said. "There's very little part of the fire left
that will threaten the line in very serious fashion."
About 20 miles southwest of Buffalo, firefighters have contained
90 percent of the 2,700-acre Big Spring fire. Full containment was
expected Thursday. No structures are threatened by the fire, which
has cost more than $2 million to fight. About 142 personnel are on
scene.
A fire on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest grew by
500 acres Tuesday as it burned grass and timber southeast of
Newcastle, but the 17,500-acre Red Point Fire was 90 percent
contained, with full containment expected Wednesday.
More than 900 firefighters are working the blaze, which has cost
$2.8 million.
Nearly all of the blaze is in an unpopulated, remote area of
Custer County, S.D., on the western edge of the forest. A small
portion of the fire crossed into Wyoming.
North of Riverton, a grass fire damaged a bridge over Muddy
Creek on Bass Lake Road, creating a 30-mile-long detour to reach
recreation areas on the west side of Boysen State Park.
The wooden bridge, constructed more than 50 years ago, has been
closed to all traffic since Friday's fire, apparently started by
lightning.
"The big wooden timbers underneath have burns at least a
half-inch deep in them, and the deck was already weakened by dry
rot over the years," said Rocky McWilliams, a county roads
supervisor.
State officials announced fire restrictions would be imposed at
Glendo State Park effective Wednesday. Open fires will be banned,
along with charcoal fires in enclosed grills. Gas grills may be
used only for cooking purposes.
Guernsey, Curt Gowdy and Keyhole state parks have also imposed
restrictions.
In addition, fire restrictions are in effect in Yellowstone and
Grand Teton national parks, the Medicine Bow and Bridger-Teton
national forests, the Thunder Basin National Grassland, and Bureau
of Land Management property administered by the Kemmerer, Pinedale
and Rock Springs field offices.

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On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov