BRIDGER TETON NATIONAL FOREST — As stormy weather continues this summer, fires started by lightning strikes have cropped up around the Tetons.
According to Teton Interagency Fire, at least two wildfires remain active as of Friday morning, with both listing “lightning” as cause.
Closest to Jacksonites is the active Rock Springs fire, a 0.1-acre fire burning south of Teton Village and north of Phillips Ridge. It was first discovered on Tuesday, July 25, likely related to Monday night’s severe thunderstorm.
“The very small fire is burning on an incredibly steep slope with standing dead trees and has a low spread potential,” Teton Interagency Fire says on its website. “Fire managers are developing a safe response for the fire.”
Monday’s thunderstorm also ignited a 0.2-acre fire near Pilgrim Creek. It was discovered on Monday, July 24, “within the Teton Wilderness … burning in moderate to heavy timber,” Teton Interagency Fire said. This fire was successfully contained on Wednesday, July 26.
Farther north is the still-active Green Mountain fire, a 0.1-acre fire discovered in the Tetons on Thursday afternoon.
Another fire in Bridger-Teton National Forest remains active: the Mount Nystrom fire in the Pinedale Ranger District. This 0.2-acre fire was also caused by lightning and was reported on the evening of Sunday, July 23.
“The fire is currently burning in an isolated pocket of timber on a steep, rocky, southwest facing slope,” Teton Interagency Fire says on its website. “This rugged terrain is limiting firefighter access to the fire. Teton Interagency Fire managers will utilize helicopter bucket drops as the primary suppression strategy moving forward to extinguish the fire. Firefighters will be closely monitoring fire and weather conditions to watch for spotting or fire spread out of the current footprint. There are no trail or area closures associated with the fire at this time.”
Caribou-Targhee National Forest announced that six lightning-ignited fires across southeast Idaho on Thursday had required firefighter responses, including the Green Mountain Fire.
Last week, Teton Interagency Fire elevated the fire danger to “high” across Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge.
