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:  54%

Resources: 433 Total Personnel: 6 Hand Crews; 20 Engines; 1 Dozer; 16 Heavy Equipment; 5 Helicopters 

KEY MESSAGES:

Late yesterday afternoon the Incident Management Team recommended to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) that Highway 26 be temporarily closed due to increased fire activity approaching the highway. WYDOT made the decision to close the highway around 4:00 p.m. for public and firefighter safety. Highway 26 remained closed overnight and is still closed this morning due to active fire behavior near the highway corridor near Togwotee Pass. Currently there is no estimated time for when the highway might reopen.

Fire crews shifted to night operations last night to patrol and implement firing operations west of the highway to slow or stop the fire from jumping to the east side of the highway. “Firing operations” is terminology used to describe the use of fire to burn wildland fuels between a 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.

CURRENT STATUS:

Yesterday, continued warm and dry conditions along with some shifting winds resulted in active fire behavior in several locations around the fire. On the west side most of the activity was in Cottonwood Creek and the North Fork of Spread Creek where both backing fire and upslope fire was observed. On the northeast corner of the fire winds were causing fire activity to back or move upwind towards Highway 26. Additional firefighting personnel were moved into the highway corridor and helicopter water bucket drops were actively used to cool down hot spots closest to the highway. Crews initiated hand firing operations overnight off the west side of the highway for approximately a 1.5 mile stretch due to the movement and threat of the fire. Active fire is still well within the defined indirect control lines that have been constructed and strengthened. 

The Deception Road shaded fuels break south of Brooks Lake Lodge is complete and ready to be implemented if necessary. Crews and equipment continued to work on the Flagstaff Road indirect control line. Crews worked on removing the vegetation that had been cut on the Holmes Cave Trail and a segment of the Continental Divide Trail. Structure protection crews tested the pumps, hose and sprinklers and remained on site later into the evening prepared to implement the protection plans for the Brooks Lake Lodge and Pinnacle areas if needed. 

Today, crews will continue to monitor the fire activity along the Highway 26 corridor and potentially continue firing operations working their way to the west along the highway. This would continue to be done to prevent the fire from building heat and spotting across the highway. Helicopter water bucket drops will be used where appropriate to cool down hot spots or along the fire edge. Several of the critical values at risk that have been identified as a part of the confine/point protection strategy are located on or northeast of the highway corridor. Crews and equipment will continue working on improving the Flagstaff Road as an indirect control line. The scouting and planning of confinement features located west of the fire area will continue. 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 if needed.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Showers and thunderstorms will be possible all day as a cold front approaches. Any storms that develop will be capable of erratic outflow winds gusting to 30 mph as well as cloud-to-ground lightning. Brief heavy rain is possible if a thunderstorm cell passes directly over the fire. Otherwise expect winds to be a little stronger today.

Predicted cooler temperatures, higher minimum humidity, lower mixed heights, and increased precipitation chances today will moderate fire conditions. However, until wetting rain penetrates the canopy, areas of high intensity fire from yesterday may continue to see active surface fire behavior, single tree and or group torching, along with short range spotting. Stronger southwest winds will also promote growth in areas holding heat. The chance of thunderstorms today brings a chance of dangerous outflow winds over the fire. These can be erratic in nature and cause sudden increased winds in the area.

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.