Single Publication

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Northern Rockies Team 1, Incident Commander Brent Olson

Location:  7 miles SW of Togwotee Pass

Start Date: Friday, August 16, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Size: 18,734 acres

Percent complete:  59%

Resources: 449 Total Personnel: 8 Hand Crews; 14 Engines; 1 Dozer; 18 Heavy Equipment; 5 Helicopters 

KEY MESSAGES:

Yesterday, firefighting resources continued to suppress spot fires northeast of Highway 26 ranging in size from very small to 1/10th of an acre. Crews have been successful in these suppression efforts and none of the spot fires have become established or grown. Engines and crews patrolled the highway corridor to keep holding the fire edge along the highway.

We continue to catch up on the fire size mapping because cloud cover prevented an overnight infrared camera flight a couple of days ago. The fire has increased in size by 822 acres over the past day.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) continues to have U.S. Highway 26 closed for public and firefighter safety. Firefighters are working along the highway in several locations while thick smoke blankets the roadway. This creates a dangerous driving environment for the public and firefighting resources. For firefighter and public safety, we ask for your patience during this time while the fire has directly impacted Highway 26. Currently, there is no estimated time for when the highway might reopen but it is evaluated each morning.

CURRENT STATUS:

Yesterday, firing operations continued along Highway 26 south to Forest Road 537 and north to the communications site near Togwotee Pass due east of Two Ocean Mountain. These firing operations were implemented to burn wildland fuels between the highway (an indirect control line) and the fire’s flaming front. When successful, the main fire will slow or stop advancing since the fire’s fuel has been removed. The fire made a push towards the highway two days ago with significant intensity resulting in the need to use firing operations. All these actions are being done on the northeast corner of the fire to protect the identified values at risk including the Highway 26 corridor, Brooks Lake, Pinnacle and Breccia Drives. Structure protection crews tested the pumps, hose and sprinklers continued to patrol and tested the pumps, hose and sprinklers set up for implementing protection plans for the Brooks Lake Lodge and Pinnacle areas if needed. Night operations continued to monitor the fire activity, patrolled for spot fires, and stood ready to respond if fire threatened the critical values at risk overnight.

Today, fire crews will continue to hold the fires edge at Highway 26 as well as monitor for spot fires east of the highway. Firefighters will respond and helicopter water bucket drops will be used where needed to respond to spot fires or hot spots along or east of Highway 26. If conditions allow, aerial firing operations will be used to build depth in the area where hand firing operations were used yesterday moving west from the highway towards the base of Two Ocean Mountain and the uncontrolled fire edge. While the northeastern corner remains the operational priority because of several identified critical values at risk identified as a part of the confine/point protection strategy, work continues on other parts of the fire. Crews and equipment will finish working on the Flagstaff Road as an indirect control line and then move to the western side where the Flagstaff-Spread Creek Road has been identified as an indirect control line and needs to be improved using hand crews and equipment. Structure protection crews will patrol the Brooks Lake Lodge and Pinnacle areas and test the pumps, hose, and sprinklers to make sure they are ready to protect structures if needed.

Weather and Fire Behavior: 

Today will be the start of a warming and drying trend that will last into the weekend as high pressure builds over the area. Expect mostly clear skies, with humidity dropping below 30 percent this afternoon. Prevailing winds will generally be out of the northwest, though another shift to easterly winds is expected in the evening.

Expect a steady increase in fire behavior as fuels dry out, especially on the northeast portion of the fire where little precipitation was received. This includes surface fire in heavy dead and down fuels as well as single tree or group tree torching. Previously ignited areas that burned “patchy” or without depth have the probability to become active today. We anticipate these areas to pick up in fire behavior with the potential for torching and spotting. Given the condition of the fuels, downwind spotting is likely from any torching trees. Spotting distance is expected out to 1 mile. If spotting occurs, the probability of success is high to contain them quickly with aerial and ground resources.

AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE:

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

Closures and Evacuations:

A revised 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 areas are currently under a Level 3 Evacuation notice. A Level 3 Evacuation means “Go” to evacuate. Residents must evacuate immediately. 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 is currently closed and 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.