JACKSON, Wyo. — Firefighters had their hands full yesterday as red flag conditions whipped small wildland fire starts into potentially troubling incidents. Today’s cooler, wetter weather is a welcome change.
Lonestar Fire
The cold front has put a damper on fire activity in Yellowstone where the Lone Star Fire has grown to about 960 acres. Ron Steffens Wyoming 2 team continues to manage the fire, now with 49 men and women attached to it.
Crews are not out of the woods yet, however, as a warming and drying trend predicted for the remainder of the week may cause smoldering areas to respond and pick up again.
Engines will continue to assess the Old Faithful area for structure protection. Fire monitoring will analyze fire spread potential. Crews will begin point protection on infrastructure and picnic area locations.
The Grand Loop Road and day-use areas between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction are open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777.
Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. This includes Howard Eaton, Lone Star, Divide, and DeLacy Creek trails.
Many of the campsites around Shoshone Lake and Lone Star Geyser are closed. Hikers and backpackers are encouraged to talk to park staff for alternate opportunities or visit the park’s Backcountry Situation Report.
Shoal Creek Fire
Sublette County Unified Fire, along with Forest Service assets from the Bridger-Teton are actively suppressing a fire up Shoal Creek down in the Hoback Canyon near Cozy Campground.
The fire was first discovered Sunday. It is not known how the 25-acre Shoal Creek Fire was started; an investigation continues.
The perimeter of the Shoal Creek Fire is burning fully within the 2016 Cliff Creek burn scar. Due to this burn scar, the potential for growth is minimal. Firefighting resources responding to the Shoal Creek Fire included seven engines, one helicopter, one water tender, and various management personnel from Teton Interagency Fire and Sublette County Unified Fire. A 20-person Interagency Hot Shot crew will be arriving later Monday.
Power outages occurred for residents from Camp Creek in Teton County to the Upper Green River Valley in Sublette County. Power has been restored to all effected by this outage.
Smoky Hollow Fire
The Smoky Hollow Fire in Mosquito Creek is burning on the border of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It is located on a ridge top approximately 6 miles southwest of Wilson, Wyoming, just above Mosquito Creek in Teton County, Wyoming. The fire is approximately 17-acres and burning in timber, and dead and fallen trees. The fire is creeping and smoldering with occasional single-tree torching that can be seen from Jackson, Wyoming.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There are 15 firefighters suppressing the fire, including Engine 441 from the Bridger-Teton National Forest. An additional handcrew and helicopters were ordered to help suppress the fire.
The fire is burning in very steep terrain with an estimated 50% slope. The fire is still at 0% containment but with the cooler temperatures and forecasted weather the firefighters are expecting to make progress on the fire today. No structures are threatened. The public is asked to stay out of the immediate area so firefighters can perform their suppression activities safely. Areas to avoid include the 050 trail, the 054 trail, and Forest Service Road 30975 road on the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Mosquito Creek.
