Dollar Lake Fire update, Tuesday, August 26
Highlights of the Community Meeting
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
August 26, 2025
There was a Community Meeting at the Pinedale Library on Tuesday, August 26th to give updates on the Dollar Lake Fire burning in the Upper Green. People on hand to give short presentations were from the Forest Service, Fire Incident Command, Shad Cooper with Sublette County Unified Fire, Sheriff K.C. Lehr with the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office, personnel from the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger Teton National Forest, Sublette County Commissioner Lynn Bernard, and Mo Hutchinson with the American Red Cross. After the presentations, the gathering broke up and people could chat in smaller groups with fire personnel and look at large maps of the fire area.
As of Monday night, August 25th, the fire was reported to be 13,500 acres and 0% contained. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. A five-mile radius closure area is in effect around Dollar Lake.
The northeastern flank of the fire has reached the west side of lower Green River Lakes and campground and has moved into the Bridger Wilderness area. The southwestern flank is within a mile north of the Red Cliff Bible Camp and private cabins in that vicinity. There have been multiple air drops of retardant around the Red Cliff Camp complex and cabins. Dozer fire lines have been blazed, water tanks and sprinkler systems set up, and structure protection put in place. The river corridor and Green River Lakes road are holding as fire breaks keeping the fire on the east side of the road. An assortment of aircraft have been working the fire, including five helicopters, air attack planes, and water tank scooper planes. This fire is the top priority for the Great Basin area.
Mo Hutchinson, with the American Red Cross Disaster Team in Sublette County, reported they have been on stand-by since last Thursday for the fire. Arrangements are in place for an emergency evacuation shelter at the Pinedale High School should it be needed and activated.
Sublette County Unified Fire Chief, Shad Cooper, commended everyone who has helped on the fire to date. Crews have been fighting the fire day and night, helping to evacuate people and get cattle out, protecting an outfitter came, and managing resources. When asked if they needed anything, he said they are doing good on equipment and supplies. He stressed one of the biggest ways locals can help is to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter for your local fire department. He said many people don’t realize our Sublette County firefighters are all volunteers, and they can use more help. He gave a special thanks to Jackson Hole Fire and EMS for coming out on short notice in the beginning 2-1/2 days and providing 24-hour structure protection to the Green River Lakes Lodge on the shore of Green River Lakes.
Sublette County Commissioner Lynn Bernard said between 350-400 people have come into our area to work on the fire. Bernard thanked the Emergency Management team, all the firefighters, and everyone else concerned who is helping in the effort.
There were many good questions asked during the question and answer period of the community meeting. Someone asked what local landowners could do if they were in the path of the fire. Helpful actions suggested included raking and getting rid of ground fuels away from structures; limbing trees and getting rid of any ladder fuels; wetting things down, if possible; putting screens on any open vents so fire embers can’t get in; clearing firewood away from buildings; and closing windows to keep smoke out.
Pinedale District Ranger Kate Olson also thanked everyone who has helped with the fire and to those who have made offerings to help in some way.
FIRE INFORMATION:
Inciweb, Dollar Lake Fire:
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-
dollar-lake-fire
Fire Phone: 307-395-2365
Fire Email: 2025.dollarlake@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgerTetonNF
X: https://x.com/BridgerTetonNF
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