Single Publication

Fish Creek and Pack Trail Fire Daily Update 
Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Pack Trail Fire                             
Total Acres: 18,774                       
Total Personnel: 214                      
Contained/Completed: 0%              

Fish Creek Fire
Total Acres: 25,371
Total Personnel: 85
Contained/Completed: 95%

Closure Order
A new Fish Creek and Pack Trail Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure Order (order # 04-03-24-314) was issued by the US Forest Service on Tuesday. This order is in effect from October 1, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. through October 15, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. unless rescinded. This order supersedes any previous orders, including #04-03-24-313, prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same described area. Click here to access both the map and the closure order or view the information on the fire’s Inciweb site.

Weather
The National Weather Service in Riverton, WY issued a Red Flag Warning yesterday for central Wyoming, including Fremont County, effective through 8:00 p.m. this evening. Warm, dry, and strong gusty winds could cause erratic fire behavior. Winds are expected to be out of the west-southwest, gusting 30-35 mph through the afternoon and decreasing after sunset.

Operations
Firefighters continued to install structure protection fixtures around homes and ranches along the Highway 26 corridor yesterday. Farther south, other crews began improving holding features along the road to Pelham Lake and scouting for suitable fireline locations to the east between the Lava and Purdy burn scars. Aviation was very active over the fire on Tuesday, addressing hot spots and flare ups where the fire had crested the Lava Mountain ridgeline.

The focus today will be improving and holding established firelines and protecting critical values at risk under red flag conditions. The objectives are to keep the fire south of Highway 26, west of the 532 road, and north of the South Fork of Fish Creek. Aerial resources will assist when wind and smoky conditions allow.

Resources
The incident management team currently managing the Fish Creek and Pack Trail fires, IMT3 Nevada Team 4, is reaching the end of its 14-day rotation. They hosted a transition meeting yesterday afternoon with members of CA Team 10, which will be the next incident management team to oversee the two incidents.

Today, overhead personnel from the incoming team will shadow their respective counterparts in the various divisions as they carry out their duties, giving the incoming team members one-on-one opportunities to gather additional information, ask questions, familiarize themselves with local factors and resources, and work with interagency partners and cooperators. CA Team 10 is expected to assume command of the fire later this evening or Thursday morning, October 3.

Safety
An air quality alert for wildfire smoke was issued on Tuesday for the Upper Wind River Basin, including the city of Dubois. The alert will remain in effect until 1:00 p.m. today. The Wyoming Department of Health recommends that the elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems avoid physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities during this time.

Highway 26 is currently open to traffic, though drivers will likely experience periods of smoke today. Please use caution while driving, use headlights, and expect to encounter fire vehicles along the road. The Wyoming Travel Information Map at https://map.wyoroad.info/wtimap/index.html provides up-to-date road information.

Due to current conditions and expected weather, residents and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution with fire or possible ignition sources, including campfires, as well as stay out of posted closed areas and avoid areas around fire impacted zones.

Evacuations
Evacuations and evacuation alert levels for several subdivisions and ranches in Fremont County, WY remain in place.