BIG PINEY, Wyo. — The Horse Fire on Bridger-Teton National Forest’s (BTNF) Big Piney Ranger District is now considered 90% contained, according to an update by BTNF on Friday, July 18.
The fire was reported to be 2,802 acres in size, an increase from the 2,677 acres reported on June 30, when it was considered to be 59% contained.
BTNF first reported the lightning-ignited fire, its first wildland fire of the season, on June 13. It has since been burning in heavy timber and slash roughly 10 miles west of Merna, 10 miles north of McDougal Gap and 2 miles west of Prospect Peak, near the confluence of the South Horse Creek and Cow Creek.
The fire is “currently contained within its overall footprint, meaning it is no longer spreading beyond certain control features,” according to BTNF’s Friday update. “However, what’s crucial to understand is that within this perimeter, there are many ‘green islands’ of unburned vegetation. These areas may look unburned, but they still contain dry fuels — like trees, brush or grass — that can catch fire and reignite, especially under certain weather conditions like high winds and low relative humidity.”
BTNF shared that firefighters are working on securing the “green islands” by extinguishing nearby hotspots, but access can be a challenge.
“Even though fire managers and crews have made significant progress in containing the fire, they are still assessing those green islands closely,” BTNF’s update reads. “The goal is to make sure the fire doesn’t spread beyond its current footprint, but this can take time and constant evaluation.”
