JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Several fires are burning on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Fire officials are considering the weather, available resources, predicted fire behavior and the fuel conditions for each of the wildfires to determine management actions.
Two fires burning in close proximity have officials worried enough that they are advising residents of nearby Hoback Ranches and Bondurant to be prepared to evacuate if necessary though no order has been given at this time.
Weather has been horrendous for fire the past 2-3 days. High winds have driven wildfire quickly and unpredictably. Two recreationists that were in the area of the Roosevelt Fire had to retreat to water in a nearby creek as the fire moved on them suddenly. Both men were transported to medical services at St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson and were then transferred to a burn center in Salt Lake City. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
Four fires on the move
The Martin Fire was discovered, Sunday, September 16, on the Greys River Ranger District south of Corral Creek. The fire is estimated to be approximately 300 acres (3,500 acres updated at 5:44pm) and is being driven by the wind. Fire personnel are evacuating campers from the area and a Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered.
Closures include Greys River Road #10138 from north Three Forks to the Cazier/Corral Guard Station. Additional emergency closures are expected to be implemented today.
The Roosevelt Fire is burning on the Big Piney Ranger District south of Bondurant. It was reported Saturday, September 15. The fire is burning in heavy timber and steep rugged terrain. It is located three miles west of the Upper Hoback Trailhead near Roosevelt Meadows.
The fire is estimated at approximately 500 acres (5,000 acres update 5:44pm), and the cause is unknown. The Upper Hoback River Trail #131 is closed. A Forest Service Emergency Area Closure is being implemented and backcountry hunters are being evacuated from the area. No evacuations are in effect for private property at this time, but residents are urged to be ready in the event evacuations become imminent. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered.
“We are asking residents to prepare and make necessary plans for possible evacuations if the need arises. This is not an evacuation as of yet but we want residents to be prepared,” said Travis Bingham, PIO for the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office.
Bingham added that his department’s main concerns right now are getting everyone in the backcountry out of the path of the wildfires.
“USFS BTNF ship 38 HX is actively searching for two Wyoming Game and Fish employees in the Crow Creek area of the Grey’s River drainage in Lincoln County. We are sending the Sublette Ship 950FS to locate and rescue 18 persons from the Grizzly Creek area west of the Roosevelt Fire,” Bingham added.
Early suppression efforts include two Fire Boss water scoopers pounding the NE front with water they are grabbing from the nearby Pallisades Reservoir. Two additional scoopers are arriving this afternoon.
The Lead Creek Fire was reported Friday, September 14, four miles west of Sherman Guard Station on the Big Piney Ranger District. The fire is burning in grass, sage and some timber. The fire is 2/10 of an acre. Fire fighters took suppression actions and the fire is currently controlled.
The Spider Fire is located on the Pinedale Ranger District in the Bridger Wilderness area. It is approximately two acres and was reported on Saturday, September 15, near Bald Mountain Basin burning in timber and grass. Fire is smoldering and creeping.
Satellite imagery yesterday shows smoke plume cast to the NE from Roosevelt (upper) and Martin (lower) fires. 
Closure maps:
