JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Many have taken notice of slight hazy conditions in the valley for the past few days. This is drift smoke from wildfires currently burning west of Wyoming, particularly large-scale events in Nevada and Northern California.
The megafire Martin Fire is throwing the most smoke Jackson’s way. The fire is now at 443,000 acres (35% containment) is burning along 56 miles between it’s origination on the western edge of the Santa Rosa Range near Paradise Valley to the Humbolt National Forest.
In addition, the 36,500-acre Klamathon Fire on the California-Oregon border is also in direct line to send smoke Jackson’s way as the prevailing wind pattern lately has been the typical West-South Westerly wind flow.
Wyoming itself has thus far experienced only one major wildfire with the Badger Creek Fire in the Southeast part of the state. That blaze has reached 90% containment at 21,310 acres.
A new fire is developing on the Big Horn-Washakie county line. The Terek Fire tripled in size overnight to a current estimate of 37,000 acres, according to the WildCAD – Cody Interagency Dispatch Center. The fire is burning at or near the Bonanza Oil Field near Washakie and northeast of Worland.
BLM is reporting the fire is a fast-moving blaze burning in sage and grass. It is 30% contained with approximately 120 personnel assigned. Four Single Engine Air Tankers, two Heavy Air Tankers, one Type 1 Helicopter, one Type 3 Helicopter, and two Air Attack Platforms are currently working the fire along with numerous ground resources.
Highway 31 between Manderson and Hyattville is open only to residents in the area and has been closed to all through traffic at this time.
The Terek fire was reported on Sunday, July 8, to the Cody Dispatch Center at 11:02pm. It was originally three smaller lightning-caused fires that have now merged together.
