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/
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/
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