Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 1, Incident Commander Brent Olson

Location:  7 miles SW of Togwotee Pass

Start Date: Friday, August 16, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Size: 15,506 acres

Percent complete:  49%

Resources: 455 Total Personnel: 6 Hand Crews; 20 Engines; 1 Dozer; 16 Heavy Equipment; 5 Helicopters 

KEY MESSAGES:

Yesterday, warm and dry conditions resulted in active fire behavior throughout the day. Easterly winds pushed the fire west into the Dry Lake Creek drainage the previous night. Around midday the winds shifted to the west and then southwest and the fire worked its way upslope as wind and slope aligned. The most active fire was on the western side in remote areas but still well within the defined indirect control lines that are currently being constructed and strengthened. With the increase in smoke along Highway 26 visitors should use caution and drive carefully due to limited visibility, and firefighters are working off the road in several locations.

Completion has now increased to 49 percent on the fire. Percent complete refers to the degree to which the confine/point protection strategic actions have been accomplished. Confine is a wildfire response strategy of restricting a wildfire to a defined area, primarily using natural barriers that are expected to restrict the spread of the wildfire under the prevailing and forecasted weather. Point protection tactics include the installation of pumps, sprinkler systems, vegetative fuels reduction, and other actions to protect values-at-risk. 

CURRENT STATUS:

Crews and equipment continued to work on widening and improving the shaded fuels break along Deception Road south of the Brooks Lake Lodge. The Flagstaff Road on the fire’s northwest side, south of Hwy 26, firefighters utilized heavy equipment to continue construction of a shaded fuel break as an indirect control line and to assist with point protection of Togwotee Lodge. Firefighters held and improved the indirect control line located from Highway 26 south to Pilot Knob and the Moccasin Basin Trailhead. Active fire on the northwest side was monitored for movement throughout the day. Crews worked on removing cut fuels from the Holmes Cave Trail to continue to improve it as an alternate indirect line. Several locations of the fire on the south and west sides were monitored due to significant increase in fire behavior throughout the day. Structure protection crews reviewed plans, tested, and improved equipment set up in the Brooks, Pinnacle and Breccia areas. Structure Protection resources also continued assessing protection needs farther east of the fire along the Highway 26 corridor. Due to the increase in the fire size the Temporary Flight Restriction over the fire area has expanded to the west.

Today, on the east side of the fire crews will patrol and monitor indirect control line from Highway 26 south to Pilot Knob. Work to construct and improve indirect control lines will continue along the Deception and Flagstaff Roads as part of the confine/point protection strategy employed to protect the identified values at risk. Firefighters will start scouting confinement features west of the fire area for long term planning. Structure protection crews will test hose lays to make sure they are ready when needed and continue assessments of the values at risk in additional areas along the Highway 26 corridor.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: 

Today is a weather transition day as a system approaches. Highs will still reach the low 70s with humidity dropping below 20 percent. However, shower and thunderstorm chances will increase through the afternoon. The best chances will be after 4:00 p.m. and then continuing through the night. Any storms that develop near the fire will be capable of producing lightning, as well as outflow wind gusts to 40 mph during the afternoon. It will be cooler Tuesday with rain chances increasing.

Another warm, dry day will bring active fire behavior in unchecked fire edges. Expect intense surface fire in the heavy fuels along with single tree and group tree torching. When slope and wind align, expect strong uphill fire runs with active crown fire. Spotting observed from yesterday’s fire behavior was greater than a ¼ mile. Expect more of the same today. Fire behavior will increase after the inversion lifts, around 11:00 a.m., peak around 6:00 p.m. before beginning to moderate after sunset. The chance of thunderstorms today brings a chance of dangerous outflow winds over the fire. These can be erratic in nature and cause the fire to spread in multiple directions.

AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE:

Air quality, smoke conditions and forecasts can be found at https://www.airnow.gov/.

CLOSURES AND EVACUATIONS:

A joint Closure Order for the fire area has been issued by the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests for public and firefighter safety. Please do not enter the closure area or use the Forest Roads that are closed.

The Fish Creek Area, Roads, and Trails Closure Order (map) has been established for public and firefighter safety in the fire area. Full details can also be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/btnf/alerts-notices.

Fremont County: Brooks Lake, Pinnacle Drive and Breccia Drive area remain in the Level 2 Evacuation notice. A Level 2 Evacuation means “Be Set” to evacuate. You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. See the alert notice on the Fremont County Fire Protection District Facebook page. 

Teton County: The Teton County Division of Emergency Management utilizes a Ready, Set, Go www.tetoncountywy.gov/1846/Ready-Set-GO system for evacuation messaging. All residents should be in the Ready status by preparing for evacuations and becoming fire adapted.

US HWY 26/287 continues to experience smoke and sometimes limited visibility. Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is working closely with Fremont County Emergency Management and fire officials for the safety of motorists and firefighters. Drivers are encouraged to visit https://www.wyoroad.info/ prior to traveling on US HWY 26/287 for road status and information, or download the Wyoming 511 app at https://www.wyoroad.info/511/WY511Mobile.html to monitor for any changes due to fire activity.