K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For August 31st, 2018 – Morning

THE BRITANIA FIRE BURNING WEST OF WHEATLAND IN SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING CONTINUES TO GROW -- IT TOPPED 26,000 ACRES IN SIZE AS OF 6 A.M. YESTERDAY.

THE BLAZE, LAST LISTED AT 26,028 ACRES IN SIZE, IS NOW 64 PERCENT CONTAINED -- A 30 PERCENT INCREASE SINCE TUESDAY EVENING. ROCKY MOUNTAIN TEAM BLACK, A TYPE II INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE INCIDENT YESTERDAY MORNING.

THE FIRE'S GROWTH HAS BEEN AIDED BY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER. RED FLAG WARNINGS WERE ISSUED FOR THE AREA IN EACH OF THE PAST TWO DAYS.

A NUMBER OF STRUCTURES ARE PRESUMED DESTROYED, LIKEY INCLUDING SEVERAL CABINS AS WELL AS OUTBUILDINGS.

CONTAINMENT IS LARGELY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE FIRE, WHERE THE BLAZE MADE TWO LARGE RUNS TO THE EAST EARLIER THIS WEEK. THAT PART OF THE FIRE IS BURNING LARGELY IN GRASS AND LIGHTER FUELS, AND FIRE OFFICIALS FEEL THAT SIDE OF THE BLAZE IS SECURED ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO THE PALMER CANYON ROAD.

FIRE CREWS HAVE ALSO HAD SUCCESS HOLDING THE FIRE PERIMETER ON THE NORTH SIDE. EVACUATIONS IN THE LARAMIE PEAK SUBDIVISION, LOCATED NORTHEAST OF THE FIRE, WERE LIFTED ON TUESDAY, BUT RESIDENTS ARE STILL UNDER A PRE-EVACUATION NOTICE AND MUST BE READY TO LEAVE THE AREA WITHIN 30 MINUTES.

ON THE SOUTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE FIRE, STEEP, RUGGED TERRAIN PREVENTS HAND CREWS FROM ENGAGING IN DIRECT ATTACK. SO, FIREFIGHTERS ARE USING PALMER CANYON ROAD AS A "HOLDING FEATURE," WORKING IN THE AREA TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM SPREADING FURTHER SOUTH.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF PLATTE AND ALBANY COUNTIES NORTH OF PALMER CANYON ROAD, WEST OF THE LARAMIE RIVER AND EAST OF THE COTTONWOOD ROAD IN ALBANY COUNTY.
THE BRITANIA FIRE WAS STARTED BY LIGHTNING EARLY SUNDAY. FIRE MANAGERS HAVE LISTED SEPTEMBER 15 AS THEIR ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE FIRE WILL BE FULLY CONTAINED.
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A FEDERAL JUDGE LATE THURSDAY TEMPORARILY BLOCKED THE OPENING OF THE FIRST GRIZZLY BEAR HUNTS TO BE HELD IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DANA CHRISTENSEN'S ORDER COMES AS IDAHO AND WYOMING PREPARED ON SATURDAY TO OPEN THE FIRST GRIZZLY BEAR HUNTING SEASONS IN THE LOWER 48 STATES SINCE 1974.

CHRISTENSEN WROTE THE THREAT OF DEATH TO INDIVIDUAL BEARS POSED BY THE SCHEDULED HUNTS IS SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY A DELAY IN THE STATE'S HUNTING SEASONS.

HIS DECISION REVERSED HIS STATEMENT EARLIER TUESDAY THAT HE WOULD NOT MAKE AN IMMEDIATE RULING.
THE RULING IS A VICTORY FOR WILDLIFE ADVOCATES AND NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES THAT SUED OVER THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE'S DECISION IN 2017 TO LIFT PROTECTIONS FOR 700 GRIZZLY BEARS IN AND AROUND YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

BEFORE THE ORDER, WYOMING OFFICIALS SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STATE'S HUNTING SEASON, BUT PLACED A CONDITION ON DOING SO.

ERIK PETERSEN, WYOMING'S SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL SUGGESTED THE JUDGE LEAVE WYOMING, MONTANA AND IDAHO IN CHARGE OF MANAGING THE BEARS - EVEN IF HE DECIDES THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE NEEDS TO REVISE ITS RULE DECLASSIFYING GRIZZLIES AS THREATENED.
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CHEYENNE, WYO. (AP) - REPUBLICAN MEGA-DONOR FOSTER FRIESS SAYS HE CONSIDERED BUT HAS DECIDED NOT TO RUN A WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN FOR WYOMING GOVERNOR.

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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - AUTHORITIES HAVE RELEASED THE NAME OF A WOMAN WHO WAS FOUND DEAD IN A HOME IN EASTERN WYOMING.

THE CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE REPORTS A POLICE OFFICER AND A CONVERSE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY FOUND 68-YEAR-OLD CONNIE BEAN'S BODY IN A GLENROCK-AREA HOME ON MONDAY. SHERIFF CLINT BECKER SAYS 42-YEAR-OLD ADAM TRUJILLO WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY.

BOOKING DOCUMENTS DO NOT INDICATE IF HE HAS HIRED AN ATTORNEY.

NO OTHER INFORMATION WAS RELEASED.