SUBLETTE COUNTY, WYO – Firefighters have made good progress on the Roosevelt Fire as Mother Nature begins to finally lend a hand as well. The wildfire is now at 60,762 acres with 45% containment. Some 1,176 are assigned to the incident.
Highway 191 is fully open through the fire area. Further closures are not expected but may be necessary depending on fire activity.
The Evacuation Level in Zone 1, 2 and 3 have been reduced to the SET level. Sublette County Sheriff’s Office has re-emphasized its GO evacuation level for Zone 8 (Jim Bridger Estates). Residents of Jim Bridger Estates should not be within the evacuation zone due to current active fire behavior.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest has reduced the Forest Closure Area for the Roosevelt Fire. Closed areas remain within the Roosevelt Fire Area. Please see the Forest Closure Map date 9/30/18 to review the areas that are currently closed. The BLM Area Closures have not changed, but are evaluated daily.
No additional homes have been counted as destroyed. A total of 55 homes have been lost.
Persons in need of donated items, or wishing to donate can contact Roosevelt Fire Aid at rooseveltfireaid@gmail.com. The Bondurant Community Club, Red Cross, Lions Club, Sublette Chamber and the Wyoming VOAD have formed this group to provide assistance. Be cautious of SCAMs asking for donations.
Today’s challenge
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect today for strong winds and dry fuels.
The focus of effort remains on the southwest side of the fire in the North Dry Beaver Creek area west of Jim Bridger Estates, where firefighters are making steady progress in securing fire lines to prevent fire movement to the east. Additional resources have been allocated to this area, and a robust structure protection group is working the area ahead of the fire to protect homes.
On the north side of the fire, adjacent to the highway, containment lines are holding the fire south of the highway. The success to date in keeping the fire south of the highway is attributed to a concerted effort to secure and continually improve fire lines to keep the fire from jumping the highway.
A fair amount of interior burning is expected to continue today and contribute to the smoke from the fire. Fire managers continue to reinforce containment lines on all sides of the fire. In Kilgore Creek/Upper Hoback on the north side of the fire, fire is actively burning to the south, but is not moving towards containment lines. The threat to this area is further being reduced.
In Hoback Ranches, recovery efforts continue today in preparation of an Organized Re-entry of residents into the area. Lower Valley Energy and Rocky Mountain Energy are working to restore destroyed infrastructure, while firefighters continue to clear dangerous snags and put out hotpots of fire as they occur. These efforts will continue for a number of days until it is safe for residents to return.
Cooler tempsand rain is on the way for most of the week.
