Fontenelle Fact Sheet - Monday, July 2, 2012
47,478 acres, 5% contained, public meetings scheduled for Pinedale & Big Piney
by Great Basin IMT Team 5
July 2, 2012
Fontenelle Fact Sheet for Monday, July 2, 2012 at 8:00 a.m.
Status: The Fontenelle Fire is burning on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, BLM High Desert District and State/Private Lands approximately 17 miles west of Big Piney, Wyoming. The fire began on June 24, 2012. The fire is currently burning in heavy, dead timber with occasional areas of grass and sage in the lower elevations.
Fire Statistics: 47,478 acres burned | 5% contained | 584 Personnel on scene
Community Meetings: The Incident Command Team will conduct two public meetings Monday, July 2. The purpose of the meetings will be to inform the public about the current fire situation and expectations for the future of the incident.
Pinedale Community Meeting
5:00 p.m.
Pinedale Library, Lovatt Room
155 S. Tyler St.
Big Piney Community Meeting
7:30 p.m.
LDS Church Gymnasium
2250 Piney Dr
Recent Events: The fire continued its progress northward, spotting across Middle Piney road between the Forest Service boundary and Joe Budd Ranch pushing two miles north through sagebrush and grass to Johnson Ridge.
The summer homes located on upper Middle Piney Creek were successfully defended by firefighters and as of 8:00 p.m. Sunday were only minimally affected. Fire began moving down slope at about 2:00 p.m. Fire managers employed a sprinkler system, a fire break cut into the timber and a back burning operation to successfully defend the homes. Crews will now focus on building fireline to secure the perimeter. Sacajawea Campground was also defended through fuel thinning and tree limbing. As of 9:00 p.m. the facility was only minimally affected.
The fire continued around the burnout area and crossed Middle Piney road at Star Hill. Changing winds, very low humidity and high temperatures helped contribute 2,469 acres to the fire.
Today’s Strategy: Aerial support from helicopters operating from the Big Piney-Marbleton airport and heavy tankers from Pocatello, Idaho will be used to help firefighters try to contain the north-northeast fire boundary. Firefighters will continue to construct and improve fire line along the south-southwest portion of the fire area.
Fire managers are requesting that the public avoid using Middle Piney Road to minimize congestion and ensure safety.
Forecast: The fire area will be under a Red Flag warning until 9 p.m. due to high winds and low relative humidity.
Closures: Road closures at present extend from the forest boundary at the top of Bare Pass at Red Castles, west to N. Piney Meadows and Tri Basin Divide, south to Cheese Pass, Mount Isabel, and Red Park, east to the junction of LaBarge Creek Road and the forest boundary, and north to Bare Pass. The road closure on Middle Piney Road may move east depending on fire conditions. Further closures may be needed to ensure firefighter and public safety. The public is asked to be cautious when driving on the LaBarge Road between Hwy. 189 to the closure at the forest boundary as there may be large fire engines, fire traffic and impact from smoke.
More Information:
www.fs.usda.gov/btnf
www.inciweb.org
www.tetonfires.com
Twitter: @WildeType2_IMT
Fontenelle Fire information phone: 307-276-3324
Related Links:
Fire Restrictions
Expanded Closure Map
Fontenelle Fire photo gallery
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