Single Publication

Pack Trail Daily Update October 13, 2024

Total Acres: 75,370

Confined: 62%

Total Personnel: 611

Evacuations – Brooks Lake Lodge, Pinnacle Cabins, Falls Camp, and Long Creek have been reduced to a Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Warning. Level 3 “Go” evacuation orders remain in effect for Lava Mountain Lodge and McKenzie Highland Ranch. The Dunoir Road Corridor has been reduced to a Level 1 “Ready” Evacuation Warning. The Upper Gros Ventre area, including Goosewing and Elk Track Ranches in Teton County, has been placed under a Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Warning. Evacuations and evacuation alerts for several subdivisions and ranches in Fremont County, WY remain in place. See the Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook Page for alerts and updates. See the Teton County Emergency Management website updates and to sign up for emergency alerts through Everbridge.

Operations – Today, calm wind conditions should result in less active fire behavior. Yesterday, light winds and dry weather also helped moderate the fire’s activity. The Pack Trail Fire continued to back into the areas around Cowboy Camp, Strawberry Warming Hut, and Fish Creek Guard Station, where firefighters used aircraft to temper persistent fire behavior while cleaning up hotspots, patrolling, and refilling tanks for sprinkler systems set up for point protection. The fire remains contained north of Union Pass Road. On the west flank, firefighters are patrolling the Burnt Ridge area as the fire creeps slowly downhill. Structure protection crews are wrapping buildings, installing hose lays, and setting up sprinklers at Elk Track Ranch and in the Gros Ventre area. Ground crews are completing a shaded fuel break on 540 Road, east off Highway 26. Overnight on the south side, active fire behavior persisted as crews observed fire behavior near buffalo meadow. On the north side, no new fire activity was observed, but some heat remains in the interior, with smoke still visible. Crews continue patrolling for new smoke and fire growth

Safety - Drivers on US-26 may experience periods of smoke today due to high winds. Please use caution while driving, use headlights, and expect to encounter fire vehicles along the road. If planning travel on US-26 across the Continental Divide monitor WY-DOT for possible closures due to fire activity.

Teton Interagency Fire managers are maintaining the  Very High Fire Danger Rating for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Shoshone National Forest , and the National Elk Refuge. Due to excessively dry fuels, any spark can ignite fire which can spread rapidly, becoming a large fire and exhibit extreme fire intensity. Residents and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution with fire or possible ignition sources. Always build your campfires away from dry grass, leaves, and overhanging branches to reduce the risk of spreading wildfire. Clear at least a 10-foot perimeter around your fire, removing any flammable material, and make sure your fire is dead out and cool to touch before you go to sleep, or leave the area. 

Weather – Today’s weather conditions present the potential for moderate fire behavior. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, with temperatures ranging from the low to mid-60s. Winds will come from the south at 6 MPH, with gusts reaching up to 13 MPH. Relative humidity will be between 19% and 24%. To learn more about air quality, visit Fire.AirNow.Gov. 

Road Closures – The Union Pass Road is closed on the Pinedale District (BTNF) from Mosquito Lake to the DuNoir on the Wind River District (SHO).

Forest Closures - Closure Order #04-03-24-316 is in effect from October 9, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. through November 1, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. unless rescinded. This order supersedes previous orders, including #04-03-24-315, prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same described area. 

For more information, visit: Facebook: USDA Forest Service - Bridger-Teton National Forest, USDA Forest Service - Shoshone National Forest  Pack Trail Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-pack-trail-fire