New Wildfire in Western Wyoming Burns 3,000 Acres Over the Weekend
A wildfire in western Wyoming has burned over 3,000 acres since its discovery on Friday.
The Pole Creek Fire is burning on the Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, some 25 miles northwest of Kemmerer in the Hams Fork drainage.
As of about 7:30 a.m. Monday, 120 firefighting personnel were assigned to the blaze. Containment is listed at 5 percent.
On Sunday, Western Wyoming Type III Incident Management Team Two assumed command of the fire. The plan at this point is to secure the heel of the fire and assess options for line construction on the southern perimeter.
The fire is burning heavy timber with grass understory.
An emergency area closure is in effect to allow firefighting resources to work safely. The closure affects all roads and trails, as well as adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands from the southern boundary of the Bridger-Teton National Forest to just north of the fire perimeter.
Monday's forecast called for cooler temperatures in the area, as well as the possibility of isolated showers in the afternoon.
Fire danger for the Bridger-Teton National Forest remains high.