Pole Creek Fire update - Friday, August 11

Bridger-Teton National Forest
Posted 8/11/17

The new Incident Command Post will be located at the Kemmerer South Lincoln Events Center. With the incoming team, additional firefighters arrived last night, bringing numbers up to 298 people.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Pole Creek Fire update - Friday, August 11

Posted

Members of the American Legion Post #55 donate water and Gatorade to the firefighters at the command post at Kemmerer High School. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Theresa Davis) 

10:25:04 AM

Pole Creek Fire Update August 11, 2017 — The Pole Creek Fire, located 25-miles northwest of Kemmerer, WY on the Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The fire is currently 20% contained and 2,898 acres.

Fire behavior continues to be light due to cooler temperatures, high humidity. Isolated tree torching and fire creeping along the ground was observed yesterday. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with possible isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Yesterday, confinement lines were finished on the west corner of the fire. Firefighters will continue to hold and improve confinement lines today in preparation for a firing operation when appropriate. On the south side firefighters will continue to scout the area for access and established helispots, while engine crews mop up smoldering fuel along the fire line.

Structure protection crews will be in the Commissary Ridge and Spring Canyon communities to assess structure protection needs.

This will be the last day for the current Type 3 team to manage the fire. The Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team 7 (IC Ron Bollier) will shadow the Type 3 team today and assume command tomorrow morning at 0600.

The new Incident Command Post will be located at the Kemmerer South Lincoln Events Center. With the incoming team, additional firefighters arrived last night, bringing numbers up to 298 people.

As the weekend begins, remember the area closure issued August 7, 2017 remains in effect.

Forest users are reminded to be alert for heavy vehicle traffic from firefighters on narrow roads and to stay out of the closure area. Resources currently assigned to the fire include: 5 helicopters, 8 hand crews, and 18 engines from Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Lincoln, and Sublette Counties. A total of 298 personnel are assigned to the incident.