AFTON, Wyo. — With the Willow Creek Fire approaching full containment, Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) highlighted the importance of long-term fuels reduction planning.
On August 22, the Willow Creek Fire was detected on the BTNF. Growing to 4,066 acres, the wildfire resulted in road closures, as well as some communities being temporarily evacuated.
In a message posted to the fire’s InciWeb page, incident managers explained that the Willow Creek Fire response exemplified effective fuel treatment. The day after it was detected, the fire had spread two miles to the southeast, where it approached the Salt River Pass on US89. In 2024, crews cut and thinned trees on the pass along the US89 corridor. This thinning and limbing work that had already been completed “proved to be an effective barrier for the Willow Creek Fire,” per InciWeb.
“It was reported that you could see a wall of fire until it reached our fuels treatment unit,” BTNF Fire Management Specialist Timothy Sherwin wrote on InciWeb. “Once it reached the treatment area, the fire shifted to the forest floor, with some limited torching where the piles were located – this is a great example of how reducing ladder fuels can prevent the fire from reaching the forest canopy.”
Grand Teton National Park Incident Commander Ron Steffens added that early fire mitigation efforts helped to contain the fire.
“This wildfire had the potential to grow much larger than it did, and we appreciate the hard work – both by the emergency responders and those who staff the year-round prevention efforts that helped us achieve additional containment of the fire,” Steffens wrote.
BTNF reported that the Willow Creek Fire reached 96% containment on Sept. 10. At nearly 100% containment, the burned area can now be handled by minimal crews. BTNF shared on Facebook that fuels management crews will continue to work throughout the year in preparation for active fire seasons.
The fire’s InciWeb page states that reducing fuels, including underbrush, the lower limbs of live trees and dead and downed trees, can create long-term environmental benefits and assist firefighters control fire spread.
