Fire Officials Hold Public Meeting
Fire officials met with Bondurant area residents last evening at the Hoback Guard Station Fire Camp to explain the fire situation and answer questions about fires in the Hoback Ranches area. Understandably very concerned about fires on either side of the Hoback Ranches, residents expressed their fears about the possibility of fires reaching their homes. Sublette County fire officials assured residents that a plan was in place and people were ready to move in should it become necessary. Residents have a telephone tree calling system in place to help them notify each other in the event of an emergency situation.

"It's very scary. I've got planes and helicopters flying over my house."
"We packed on Thursday in case we have to run away quick."
"Fire isn't new to us. We were here in '88. But it wasn't this close."
Residents expressed their fears and concerns at the meeting Sunday night with firefighters and Bridger-Teton National Forest staff. Officials felt early on that the potential of these fires, and their proximity to the Hoback Ranches, could be quite serious if the weather patterns continued as they were. They requested outside assistance to help out their already spread thin crews. The 32-member Type I Team brought in are experts, trained for the "most complex incidents". Hot Shot crews, highly-trained firefighting units, from all over the country were reassigned to Wyoming when recent rains freed them up from fires in Nevada and other areas. The Management Team gave residents the best assurances they could to hold back the fires with all the resources they had available. The recent weather has helped considerably to slow the fire and allow them to get a handle on them. Even when they are called 'Controlled', officials cautioned that they would need to have people checking these fires until the snow flies before they could be 100% sure they are totally out. Before the meeting, one firefighter commented, "You can tell the local folks we can't control what the weather does, but they have some of the best firefighters on the planet in their backyard right now. We'll do everything we can to help and keep their homes safe."

Click on small picture for a larger view.

Pinedale Online fire update. Information provided by the Pinedale Ranger District, US Forest Service Bridger-Teton National Forest.  Copyright 2001. Please contact support@pinedaleonline.com for more information or permission to reprint pictures or content.