UPDATE: Closures: Highway 26 remains open at this time with a no-stopping zone established in the vicinity of the fire. Forest Roads 513, 532, 542, 540, 542.1I, and 629 are closed. The Continental Divide Trail is closed from Sheridan Pass to Pilot Knob. And, Motorized Trails 10, 11, and 15 are also closed.

Event: Public Meeting will be held at Union Pass tonight, July 24th, 7:00 pm, at the Crooked Creek Guest Ranch.

Today’s Message: Due to current fire growth and spread direction of the Lava Mountain Fire, additional notices of evacuation and pre-evacuations have been issued for affected communities.

Fremont County has an established Evacuation Plan as follows:

· “GO” stage means that danger to your area is current or imminent and you should leave immediately. Do not delay to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home.

· “SET” stage means that there is significant danger to your area and you must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. You should have your important items packed and know what you plan to do with pets.

Special Concern: Residents in the following areas are in evacuation stage “GO”: Long Creek Subdivision, Sheridan Creek Cow Camp, MacKenzie Highland Ranch, Timberline Ranch, and Teton Valley Ranch Camp.

Additionally, the following areas are in pre-evacuation stage “SET”: Hat Butte Area, Sawmill Turnoff, Warm Springs Subdivision, Union Pass Area, Falls Creek Campground, Roaring River Subdivision, Buckboard Subdivision, Laval Mountain Lodge, Double Bar J Ranch, Lava Creek Ranch, and Triangle C Ranch.

Whether you are directly affected by this incident or not, every resident in the surrounding area should have an evacuation plan in place. And, remember, if you feel concerned or threatened by fire activity, leave the area. Do not wait for someone to tell you; leave when you feel you need to.

============================================================

UPDATE:  Due to current fire growth and spread direction of the Lava Mountain Fire, the following subdivisions are being elevated to "SET" pre-evacuation stage:
- Hat Butte,
-Union Pass,
-Warm Springs,
-Porcupine

According to the Fremont County Evacuation Plan, YOU MUST BE READY TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

  • ===================================================================upda

Authorities have reopened a highway connecting Jackson to southwestern Wyoming to Jackson after a wildfire forced its closure earlier this week, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

U.S. Highway 191/189 reopened between Daniel and Hoback Junction at noon, according to the Forest Service's website InciWeb.

However, passing is not allowed in passing zones within the area of the Cliff Creek Fire.  Stopping on the roadway is not allowed neither is parking allowed in pullouts.

A red flag warning for high fire danger is in effect for much of western Wyoming.

Meanwhile, the lightning-caused Cliff Creek Fire has grown to 11,534 acres -- 18 square miles -- in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, up from 7,671 acres -- 12 square miles -- since Wednesday. It is now 10 percent contained.

As of Friday, 620 firefighting personnel were on the scene.

The evacuation and closure of roads, trails and campgrounds in the Granite Creek area remains in effect.

The fire started by a lightning strike about 2:30 p.m. Sunday about five miles north of the rural community of Bondurant in Sublette County. It is burning in thick, heavy timber and is torching groups of trees and moving by tree-top fire runs.

The Cliff Creek Fire is among eight monitored and fought by the USFS in Wyoming. Three are on state forestry lands and one is on Forest Service land. They are either 100 percent or 90 percent contained.

Besides the Cliff Creek Fire, three more are new and growing.

  • The largest one as of Wednesday is the Lava Mountain Fire, which started by lightning on Monday and has burned 1,981 acres so far in the Shoshone National Forest northeast of Dubois. The fire is burning heavy timber and logging slash. There are 382 firefighters and other personnel on the scene to work with landowners to protect property.
  • The Arden Fire in the Bighorn National Forest was discovered Tuesday about 35 miles east of Greybull near the Shell Reservoir. It has burned 523 acres in heavy timber.
  • The Shoshone Lake Fire in the Shoshone National Forest was discovered Tuesday and its origin is unknown. It has burned 38 acres in a remote timbered area and currently poses no threat to structures.

The 2.4-million acre Shoshone National Forest was America’s first national forest.

More From K2 Radio