Purdy & Jim Creek Fire Updates: Aug. 17
Purdy at 7,914 acres; Jim Creek at 2,050 acres
August 17, 2006
Here are the latest updates on the status of the Purdy and Jim Creek Fires from the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests. Fire danger remains at HIGH. Other than closures associated with specific fires, there are no campfire or other restrictions currently in effect.
Purdy Fire – Shoshone & Bridger Teton National Forests
7,914 acres, 10% contained, (resource benefit fire changed to suppression fire)
The fire threatens 300 homes in the Union Pass, Porcupine, and Stormy Creek areas.
Public meeting Thursday, August 17, 7 PM, Dubois High School Gym
The Purdy fire saw no significant growth on Wednesday, August 16, despite active fire behavior all day as interior fuels continued to burn. The fire threatens 300 homes in the Union Pass, Porcupine, and Stormy Creek areas. The fire is burning in the Fish Creek drainage approximately 15 miles northwest of Green River Lakes and approximately 9-miles east of the Goosewing guard station, near the north fork of Fish Creek, 37 miles east of Kelly. The Purdy Fire was ignited by lightning on Friday, August 4, 2006.
Fire officials will hold a community meeting on Thursday, August 17, at 7:00 pm at the Dubois High School Gym to share information and answer questions regarding the Purdy fire. Fire information phone line: 307-455-2466.
Structure protection specialists and engines spent the day assessing homes and property in the Union Pass, Porcupine, and Stormy Creek areas. They also wrapped the building at Red Flats Cow Camp in a fire-retardant material.
The Tantanka Hotshots were joined by the Wyoming Hotshots and spent the day working on spot fires in the area just to the northwest of Warm Spring Creek. They also constructed handline in the Coyote Creek and Enos Creek areas and are preparing for possible burnout operations. There were also some small spot fires in Deadhorse Cr. on the SE side of the fire.
Presently there are 164 fire personnel assigned to the fire, including nine 8-20-person crews, 12 engine crews, 3 helicopters, and overhead personnel.
Purdy Fire Closures: A temporary closure has been put into effect for a large area surrounding the fire on both the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests. Please check with a local Forest Service office for more details as the closure boundaries may change based on fire movement. The Union Pass road is still OPEN and serves as the Purdy Fire closure area’s southern boundary. Lake of the Woods at the top of Union Pass is IN the closure area and is closed for public safety. Forest Service fire managers ask that the public please respect the closure.
More Purdy fire info: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/402/
Shoshone National Forest/>Bridger-Teton National Forest
Joint Information Center, 307-455-2466.
Jim Creek Fire - Bridger-Teton National Forest
2,050 acres, 0% contained (wildland fire for resource benefit)
The Jim Creek fire began on June 26 from lightning, 24 miles north of Pinedale, Wyoming, in the Bridger Wilderness. The fire is burning in an area where such natural fires are permissible, both in and out of the wilderness.
Status: 2050 acres. There are 12 fire personnel assigned to the fire.
Objective: To provide for public and fire personnel safety, and to allow the fire to burn where it won’t threaten private property, facilities, or other developments.
Recent Events: The fire behavior on Wednesday remained minimal with some creeping and backing. Smoke is still visible in the Upper Green River area. No new growth of the fire, occasional single tree torching
Strategy: The King's Peak Fire use module will remain on the fire to monitor fire activity and progress. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the fire.
Closures: The Jim Creek drainage is closed starting at Forest Road 710.
Points to Consider: "A wide variety of wildlife will benefit from recycling the vegetation on the landscape through fire use fires." -- Jill Miller, Game and Fish Wildlife biologist.
The Jim Creek fire is putting out limited visible smoke. Smoke that descended on the Upper Green River Valley on Tuesday, August 15, was not from this fire.
More Jim Creek fire info: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/299/
Nan Stinson, Public Information Officer for the Jim Creek Fire, (307)367-5713.
Other area small fires:
Half Moon Lake area fire Pinedale Ranger District fire crews put out a small fire over the weekend in the Half Moon Lake area. The fire was less than ¼ acre and was started by lightning.
Sweeney Fire Fire crews worked on a small fire in the Sweeney Creek area north of White Pine Ski Area on Wednesday. This fire was started by lightning and was around 5 acres in size. Fire crews were visible in the White Pine Ski area top webcam Wednesday afternoon scoping out this fire.
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