Wildfire near Square Top Mountain suppressed
10 acre human-caused fire in Bridger Wilderness started Thursday
July 22, 2005
Forest Service firefighters responded to the Green River Lakes area on Thursday night to a report of a fire near Square Top Mountain, according to a news release by the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
The Tourist Creek Fire began July 21st on the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The 10-acre fire is located in steep, rocky terrain southeast of Square Top Mountain in the Bridger Wilderness.
The fire has been determined to be human caused. Two Helitack firefighters and 2 firefighters from the local engine suppressed the fire throughout the evening.
Fire officials flew over the fire Friday morning and reported that it was contained within a rock-bound area with sparse or limited fuels surrounding it. Officials have placed the fire into a confinement strategy and expect the fire to burn itself out.
A 'confinement strategy' is an option for fire managers to use to weigh the safety of the firefighters, the values at risk, and the cost of suppression. No trails have been closed as a result of this fire. Smoke may be visible from the fire area until the fire is completely out.
"At 10,200 feet, the fact that this fire got to be 10-acres is a pretty good indicator of how quickly our fuels have dried out," said Mark Randall, Assistant Fire Management Officer on the Pinedale District. "We need folks to be careful with their campfires as the summer progresses," he said.
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