August 9, 2024 |
Photo – Leeds Fire – Courtesy Bridger-Teton Interagency Dispatch Facebook
Cooler than average temperatures across Wyoming for the next few days is welcome news after a week of hot weather and resulting wildland fires.
During the first week of August, three major wildfires were burning across Wyoming. Smaller ones popped up, as well. The Pleasant Valley, Leeds Creek and Clearwater fires burned more than 30,000 acres.
Abundant fuels created by last summer’s rain coupled with a drier-than-normal July have led to recent fire-prone conditions, fire officials say, particularly on the east side of the state. Dry lightning and gusty winds have also played a role in pop-up fires. Crews experienced an uptick in fire activity in recent weeks, said Jerod DeLay, assistant state forester and fire management officer for Wyoming State Forestry Division.
Fire restrictions of some kind are in place in 14 Wyoming counties this week. Hot temperatures and dry fuel are the reasons.
As of Tuesday, the Pleasant Valley Fire a mile north of Guernsey had burned more than 8,000 acres. It started on July 30 and burned into the nearby Haystack Fire. It is more than 90% contained.
The Haystack fire was caused by lightning, but the Pleasant Valley fire is under investigation.
Lightning also ignited the Clearwater Fire, which is burning on 1,800 acres of rugged terrain near a busy highway corridor between Cody and Yellowstone National Park.
The blaze started on July 19 and is burning on steep, remote terrain that has made direct attack very difficult for fire crews, according to fire reports. It was 7% contained as of Tuesday. The fire, which is located near Highway 14 between Wapiti and Yellowstone, has burned parts of the highway corridor.
The Leeds Creek Fire is located on the Bridger-Teton National Forest 18 miles southwest of Dubois. It was first reported Aug. 1, and the cause is unknown. As of Tuesday, the fire was burning on 1,230 acres with 13% containment. Nearly 100 people are staffing the fire team, along with a helicopter, eight smoke jumpers and multiple fire engines.
