Badger Creek Fire makes a run as dry, windy weather continues
The Badger Creek Fire flared up Thursday afternoon, forcing the temporary closure of Wyoming 230 from the Wyoming state line to Woods Landing. Sections of the 23,000-acre burn zone reignited just as local forest crews were scheduled to assuming command of the ongoing suppression efforts with a smaller Type 4 operation. Flames were reported Thursday morning in lodgepole stands that the fire had skipped in its initial rush through the forest earlier this month.
By afternoon, flames pushed past containment lines on the northeast corner. New acres were burned, but officials say they don’t have an exact count yet. Yesterday’s outbreak comes after several days of persistently hot, dry and gusty conditions.
The Badger Creek Fire was first reported on Sunday afternoon, June 10th. The investigation into its cause is still underway, although investigators say they believe it was human-caused. Officials say while Wyoming’s 230 is open this morning, it is scheduled to close again at 10 a.m. this morning. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has extended its Red Flag warnings for the Snowy, Sierra Madre and Laramie Ranges through this evening.
Carbon County Commissioners award scholarships to local students
Four Carbon County students will head off to college in the fall with a little extra help from the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. Keeping with a tradition spanning more than a decade, the commissioners recently awarded scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. Cali O’Hare has more.
New Togie Days event aims to raise funds for Saratoga VFD
In Saratoga, “Togie Days” kicks off today and runs through the July 4th holiday. This year’s festivities include a new event. Saratoga’s police and firefighters are battling each other in a game of flag football to raise funds for the Volunteer Fire Department. Emma Diercks has the story.
Rawlins Chamber makes changes to upcoming Outhouse Races
Hoping to attract more teams this year, the Rawlins Chamber of Commerce has made a handful of changes to its Outhouse Races. The annual event takes place during SummerFest, so teams still have time to enter the competition. Cali O’Hare has the details.
USFS releases environmental report for public review and comment
As the Badger Creek Fire continues to burn, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Medicine Bow National Forest Landscape Vegetation Analysis has been released for public review. The U.S. Forest Service will begin taking public comments on the document a week from today. Emma Diercks has more.
Sports: Miners kick off summer training
The H.E.M Miners’ off-season has kicked off in an informal way, but not necessarily in a bad way. Joey Saverine has the story.
