The Pole Creek Fire is at 3,030 acres, is 35 percent contained, and has 361 personnel on the incident. The number of personnel has been scaled back from an incident-high 523 on Tuesday, August 15.
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Communications officer Kurt Atkins radios to the Pole Creek spike camp, testing the effectiveness of the newly installed repeaters that were deployed in and around the Pole Creek Fire perimeter earlier this week. Two-way radios are the only form of communication in the remote area where the fire is located. Atkins works at the Command Post at the South Lincoln Events Center. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)
Firefighters from inter-agency organizations have transformed the South Lincoln Training and Events Center in Kemmerer into an incident command post for the Pole Creek Fire, which is 25 miles northwest of Kemmerer.
The Pole Creek Fire is at 3,030 acres, is 35 percent contained, and has 361 personnel on the incident. The number of personnel has been scaled back from an incident-high 523 on Tuesday, August 15.
The fire was first discovered on Friday, August 4. It started out as a controlled burn fire in the Hams Fork drainage.
The Pole Creek Fire Incident Command Post comprises several different agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, Wyoming State Forestry Division, Lincoln County Government and Sublette County Fire. The team is collectively known as the Great Basin 7 team.
Several crews of firefighters are also camped out closer to the fire in order to shorten travel time between camp and the fire perimeter.
The Events Center has turned into a strategy and supply hub for the firefighters and government employees.
“They rented the Events Center until (August) 31, but they could potentially be staying longer,” said Rachelle Points, Events Center director, at a City Council meeting.
Forest service representatives also met with residents who live in the Commissary Ridge area on Saturday, August 12, to discuss structure protection.
Kim Osborn, Great Basin Team 7 Public Information Officer (PIO), points to the location of the Pole Creek firefighters’ camp on a map. Nearly 400 personnel from several government agencies are working for the Bridger-Teton National Forest Service to help contain and manage the fire located just 25 miles northwest of Kemmerer. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)
Great Basin Team 7 unites! Pole Creek Fire Incident Command post comprises several different cooperating agencies from across the nation, including the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, Wyoming State Forestry Division, Lincoln County Government and Sublette County Fire. Command Staff brainstorm using their expertise in planning, logistics, operations and finance to help minimize the risks and maximize the containment efforts. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)
It takes a lot of food to feed nearly 500 personnel. Camp Crew is constantly restocking the inventory required to feed the firefighters and the command crew. Several refrigerator trailers are on site to help maintain the proper resources. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)
The South Lincoln Training and Events center has been transformed into an Incident Command Center for management of the Pole Creek Fire, located aproximately 25 miles north of Kemmerer. Hundreds of government-issued tents covered the grounds as nearly 500 personnel made this their home for the duration of the firefighting efforts. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)
