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Continuing News:
Wild Fires
Current information on wild fires near Pinedale, Wyoming, the western Wind River Mountains, the Wyoming Range, and the southern portion of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

BTNF Fire Restrictions

Fire Danger is Moderate
Partial Camp Fire Restrictions go in effect beginning Thursday, July 18
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Home | NIFC Current Wildfire Map | Bridger-Teton NF Fire Info | Teton Fires

Wild Fire Updates
Thursday, July 18, 2002 -
11:30 pm

Latest News: Six new fires today, four new fires yesterday.
New lightning starts have keep crews from the Bridger-Teton National Forest and County wild land fire fighters very busy over the past two days. Six new small fires started today, four were reported yesterday. The only new fires today near Pinedale were the Jack Fire up near Bondurant in the Jack Creek drainage and the Packer Creek Fire up near the Rim (on private land). The area closure remains in effect for the Horse Creek/Beaver Creek drainage areas in the path of the fire. The road is closed to traffic, except locals and fire fighters, at the Merna Junction. The public is asked to refrain from going to this area unless necessary. Be aware of increased traffic on the roads due to fire fighting activity. Also, there is increased air traffic all through this area with helicopters and fixed wing planes due to the area fire activity.
Bridger-Teton National Forest fire press releases

  • Numerous small lightning-caused fires have kept fire fighters busy across the area for the past 2 days. Most of these fires have been less than an acre in size and have been quickly handled by fire fighters.

  • The Bridger-Teton National Forest has activated two fire information hotlines to provide increased service to western Wyoming residents and visitors interested in fire information. Beginning Friday, July 19th at 8:00 AM, persons interested in receiving fire updates on fires burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest can call toll free, 1-866-651-4234 or 307-739-5577. Fire Information Officers will staff phone lines from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week or as needed for current fire activity.
  • More light rain fell today to help dampen the Mule fire somewhat. The fire reached 3,855 acres and is called 20% contained. The spotting in the Mill Creek and Dry Beaver drainages are the target of most of the action right now. This fire poses no immediate threat to private structures adjacent the forest. Crews have been able to hold the southern and western flanks of the fire. The Horse Creek/Merna road has been closed at the Merna junction for public safety while fire fighters work on this fire. Only residents and people with business in the area will be allowed in. Area closures now in effect for North & South Beaver, Dry Beaver, Lead and Horse Creek drainages and associated access routes. The fire danger was elevated to Very High as of Tuesday and partial fire restrictions go into effect today, Thursday. More Info | Fire Restrictions

  • Other fires are currently burning in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. See the Teton Fires web site for more information on these fires, www.tetonfires.com.
  • Fire restrictions are also in effect on BLM, State lands and Sublette County.
  • Geomac Fire Map web site

  • Wyoming BLM Fire Page

  • See the Bridger-Teton National Forest fire press releases for more BTNF fire info.

Mule Fire Photos

Mule Fire

Mule Fire

Mule Fire

More Mule Fire Photos

Photos by the Mule Fire IC crew. Used with permission.

Mule Fire Perimiter Map (363K PDF)

General Mule Fire Area Map (303K PDF)

PDF images require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Note that you can zoom in on the PDF to get a closer view and imag

Local Fires at a Glance

Mule Fire:
Horse Creek, Big Piney Ranger District
Size: 3,855 acres
Status: 20% Contained
Cause: Lightning

Numerous other small fires have popped up and been extinguished by the Bridger-Teton and County fire fighters. All of these fires have been caused by lightning and have been less than an acre in size.

Forest Service Fire Info:
1-866-651-4234 or
307-739-5577

8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
7 days a week during fire season

More Current Fire Information:
More lightning-caused small fires were reported on the Bridger-Teton National Forest on the Pinedale and Big Piney Ranger Districts yesterday and today. Fires were near Bondurant, on the Rim, in the Greys River District and up in the northern portion of the Forest. All of these fires were less than an acre in size and crews were able to either completely extinguish them or contain them.

  • The Table Fire, located in the Snake River Canyon and east side of the river, across from the East Table Campground was reported this morning at 8:00 AM and is estimated at 1/10 acre in heavy timber. Two members of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Helitack crew have responded.
  • The Jackson Fire, which was also reported this morning, is located on the border of the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee National Forests. This 1/10 spot fire is located two miles east of Powder Peak and is being responded to by Helitack Crews from the Caribou Targhee National Forest.
    Two smokejumpers are also assisting in suppression efforts.
  • The North Fork Fire, reported early this morning is located in the Teton Wilderness, approximately 2 miles northeast of Turpin Meadows. Two smokejumpers are working to suppress this 1/10-acre spot fire.
  • The Jack Fire is located on the Big Piney Ranger District in the Jack Creek drainage, east of Bondurant, WY. An Engine crew from the Bridger-Teton National Forest has responded with three crewmembers.
  • The Crossley Fire, located in the Greys River Ranger District is being responded to by smokejumpers.
  • The Jenny Fire reached ¼ acre on the Big Piney Ranger District, 3 miles east of Bondurant, WY, in the Jenny Creek Drainage. Supported by one helicopter performing water drops, and was controlled by engine crews from the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Bondurant Volunteer Fire Department.

  • The Red Fire was located approximately one mile southeast of the Whiskey Grove Campground on the Green River in the Pinedale Ranger District. This lightning caused fire burned 1/10 of an acre and was contained by 6 crewmembers from the Bridger-Teton National Forest who were also supported by a single helicopter performing water bucket operations.
  • The Mail Box Fire was located approximately 6 miles northeast of Bondurant, WY near Rock Creek, south of Tin Can Park on the Big Piney Ranger District. This fire reached ¼ acre in size.

  • The Elk Fire, was located five miles southeast of Bondurant, WY, two miles south of Robinson Butte on the Big Piney Ranger District. This 1/10-acre fire was contained by 4 crewmembers supported by a helicopter performing water bucket operations.

Mule Fire    The Mule Fire size reached 3,855 acres today and is 20% contained. Rain from thunderstorms helped slow the fire down a bit both yesterday and today. The fire continued to spot on the northeastern edge in Mill Creek and Dry Beaver Creek drainages. These spots in the heavily timbered areas are the primary targets of suppression activities. Crews have been successful in holding the southern edge of the fire on Horse Creek Road.
   Private structures are located within 5 miles to the east of the fire adjacent to the Forest, but these structures are not immediately threatened. Currently there are twelve 20-person hand crews, four ten-person camp crews, three helicopters, three air-tankers, three dozers, nine wildland engines, two lead planes and a Type II National Incident Management Team fom North Carolina.
   The fire is located approximately 20 miles west of Daniel with its Mule Fireeastern edge six miles west of the Sherman Guard Station. It is one mile north of Prospect Peak and approximately one mile south of Horse Mountain on the Big Piney Ranger District. The fire base is located on the Cottonwood/Ryegrass road, moved from Sherman Guard Station to get more distance away from the fire and out of the path of the smoke. The fire command team is performing a structural protection analysis as a precautionary step in case the fire begins to threaten private structures adjacent to the forest. See the PDF links above for detailed maps showing the current fire perimeter and an area map showing a broader view of the fire in relation to Daniel, Hoback Ranches and Beaver Ridge.
  
Fire restrictions will go into effect beginning Thursday, July 18th on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and in Grand Teton National Park. The fire danger has been elevated to Very High as of Tuesday, July 16th. Daily Forest Service press release updates for this fire are available from the Bridger-Teton National Forest fire page. For more information, contact the Bridger-Teton National Forest at (307) 739-5500 or call the new toll-free information hot line numbers.

Other area fires:
Fires are currently burning in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The Teton Fires web site also has interagency fire information links for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, www.tetonfires.com. The public is encouraged to report any new smoke columns they see. You can keep up with where the fires are burning by checking in on the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Large Fire update page and Fire Map.

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Click for Pinedale, Wyoming Forecast

Mule Fire Map

Mule Creek Fire Map
Click for larger map

CURRENT FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Bridger-Teton National Forest:
Partial fire restrictions go into effect on the Bridger-Teton National Forest beginning Thursday, July 18th. Back country users are reminded that campfires are not allowed above timberline in the wilderness at any time. Fireworks are prohibited at all times. Restrictions

Sublette County
Lighting fireworks is prohibited within Sublette County.

BLM:
Fire restrictions began July 4th. No open fires except within developed recreation sites. Regulations regarding smoking, operating a chain saw, and welder are in effect. No fireworks.

State:
Restrictions went into effect on State lands on June 11th.
No open fires, barbecue grills or fireworks on any lands or facilities administered by the Game and Fish Department.

Links to earlier Fire Info:

July 17, 2002
July 16, 2002
July 15, 2002
July 14, 2002
July 13, 2002
July 6, 2002
July 5, 2002
July 4, 2002
July 3, 2002
July 2, 2002
July 1, 2002
June 30, 2002
June 29, 2002
2001 Fire Updates
2000 Fire Updates

For More Info on the Web

Teton Fires
Bridger-Teton National Forest

National Interagency Fire Center NIFC
NIFC Wildland Fire Map

Where to get more information:
Bridger-Teton NF Fire Info
Mary Lendman or Jason Anderson
307-739-5542 or 307-739-5564

Pinedale Ranger District, BTNF
307-367-4326

Big Piney Ranger District, BTNF
307-276-3375

Where to report fires:
Sublette County Sheriff's Office

911 or 307-367-4378
Pinedale Ranger District
307-367-4326
Big Piney Ranger District
307-276-3375
BTNF Supervisor's Office (Jackson)

307-739-5500
Teton Fire Dispatch
(Grand Teton Park in Moose)

307-739-3630
307-739-3300

Callers are reminded that if they are using a cell phone, they may not get a local office when they dial 911. The best place to call for area fires is either the local Sheriff's office or the Bridger-Teton Fire Office. Be prepared to give a location of the smoke, your name, where you are calling from, and how they can get ahold of you again for more information if needed.



Anyone with concerns about fires can contact the Sublette County Sheriff's office at 307-367-4376, or the Pinedale Ranger District, 307-367-4326. Hikers in the wilderness who have cell phones (and can get a signal out) can call 911 and ask to be routed to the Sublette County Sheriff's office if they need to report a fire or have concerns. Be aware that 911 may route you to a different area other than Pinedale depending on where you are calling from.


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This Pinedale Online fire update is written by Dawn Svalberg from information obtained from the Pinedale Ranger District, the Jackson office of the US Forest Service Bridger-Teton National Forest, and online sources. Pinedale Online is solely responsible for the content of these reports. Copyright 2002.

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