Big Wyoming Fires Are Down, But Not Out

We are almost at mid-November 2024.

With all the work done by firefighters along with some good cold and snow, you might think that Wyoming's two biggest fires, the Elk and Pack Trail fires, would be out by now.

They are not.

The Pack Trail fire is over by Dubois, around Togwotee Pass.

PACK TRAIL INCIDENT

Type: WF - Wildfire
Area Acres Burned: 89,930
Percent Contained: 95%

The Elk Fire is north of Sheridan, up in the Bighorn Mountains.

ELK INCIDENT

Type: WF - Wildfire
Area Acres Burned: 98,352
Percent Contained: 97%

While the Elk Fire is not at full containment, actions needed on that fire are winding to a close.

Our local Forest crews will be able to complete planned fuel reduction projects by burning piles made during forest thinning projects.

Most of the work was done near structures to increase defensible space.

November and December are good months to burn piles before the snow is too deep at higher elevations, which can reduce access and safety for crews. (U.S. Forest Service).

These fires are nowhere near the raging disaster they were earlier this summer.

There is still work to be done to put out active burning. The other half of the fight lies in intentional burning intended to deny these fires for fuel.

Below is a local news report from when the first was 70's contained.

Also, there is a lot of logging going on to remove anything that might cause another serious eruption.

From the Elk Fire comes this notice:

Logging trucks will be moving log decks along Red Grade Road 26 west toward Highway 14 to the Copper Creek Gravel Pit off Forest System Road 652.

This is a more suitable location where the logs will be out of the way of traffic and is a better place for commercial sale.

Please use caution when driving on the road and anticipate this traffic. (U.S. Forest Service).