Chall at sundown
View looking West at the Chall Creek Fire on Sunday evening, Sept. 16, 2012. The fire is reported to be at 140 acres. Photo by Dave Bell.
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View from Hoback Ranches
View of fire as seen looking south from Hoback Ranches on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Bill Winney.
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Chall Creek Fire starts in Wyoming Range
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
September 16, 2012
(Sunday, Sept. 16, 9:30PM) - The Chall Creek wild fire (pronounced "She-all") began around 2PM Sunday afternoon, Sept. 16th, on the Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It is located in the Beaver Creek area of the Wyoming Range northwest of Daniel. It is burning in heavy timber and sage brush. The cause is undetermined, but storm squalls were observed moving through the area at the time. As of 7PM Sunday, the fire was 140 acres in size. Resources on scene include 4 engines, 6 smokejumpers, 1 Type I helicopter, 2 Type II helicopters, and air attack.
The Sublette County Sheriff's Office has closed the Daniel/Merna/Horse Creek Road Hwy 354 for public safety as well as evacuating all residents on County Rd 115 (Merna N Beaver Rd) and Siems Rd (County Rd 163).
The Chall Creek Fire started on the Big Piney Ranger District Sunday, September 16, at approximately 2 pm. IMMEDIATE EVACUATION ORDER FOR: North Beaver Road, Timberline Lodge, and Siems Road. Structure protection is in place for some buildings in the path of the fire. Merna area and Jim Bridger Estates are on stand-by and are not being evacuated at this time. The local Red Cross is advising evacuees needing a place to stay to go to the Pinedale Middle School.
The public is not being allowed in the area at this time. The public is asked to please stay away and not add to the congestion of fire fighting traffic and emergency responders who are mobilizing through the area. Anyone who has questions regarding homes, campers or other property that may be in the area or path of the fire should contact the SCSO for more information (307-367-4378). Current updates about the fire are being broadcast on KPIN 101.1 FM Radio, posted on the Bridger-Teton National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/btnf/), on www.tetonfires.com, and Inciweb (http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3268/).
Pinedale Online will post updates here as they come available.
Photos courtesy Dave Bell and Bill Winney. Do you have photos of this fire that you are willing to share? Please send to support@pinedaleonline.com
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