WYOMING – The state’s first wildfire of the 2018 season is proving to be a pesky one as recent weather conditions allowed the blaze to creep north and force the closure of Highway 230 and Highway 10 yesterday.
The Badger Creek Fire that started on June 10 about two miles northwest of Mountain Home, Wyo., has now burned about 21,000 acres and is 80% contained. The cause is still under investigation but it is believed to have been human-caused.
A Type 2 team left the incident 10 days ago. A Type 3 incident management team is on the fire today, put back in place after the fire was briefly handed over to a Type 4 team. About 123 personnel are still assigned to Badger Creek. Additional resources were ordered when the fire stirred up again yesterday.
Crews are continuing to utilize burnout operations between FS Road 533 and Hwy 230. They are also working to secure lines using dozers & aircraft. Estimated containment is now July 15.
Pre-evacuations: Albany County Emergency Management has issued a pre-evacuation notice for home owners along Highway 10, north of New Jelm to Woods Landing, then along Highway 230 from Woods Landing to the Fox Creek Road (County Road 47) turnoff, and then north along Fox Creek Road to Forest Road 311A. This applies to homes along both sides of the highways and county road, up to the Forest boundary. Pre-evacuation notice means that homeowners should be aware of the emergency situation and be prepared to leave quickly if notified by emergency officials.
Strategy: The Badger Creek Fire has been a full suppression fire from initial response. Firefighters will implement strategies and tactics where and when they can continue to be successful protecting values with the lowest risk necessary.
Current Situation: Weather is expected to be hot, dry, and windy through the weekend. Yesterday, crews worked to keep the fire from spreading north of Forest Road 533 and toward Wyoming Highway 230, as well as limiting spread to the east towards Woods Landing. Air Tankers were used to slow the fire growth near Highway 230 during the morning. There were also night operations that took place Friday night.
Today, crews will continue to hold current containment lines and concentrate efforts in the Porter Creek drainage. Engines continue to patrol all edges of the Fire. Residents, recreationists, and travelers in southern Albany County should expect to see smoke from the Badger Creek Fire for an extended period of time.
