Firefighters battling a 950-acre blaze in remote and rugged terrain in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming are taking precautions to protect a historic fire lookout post.
A small lookout cabin on Prospect Peak has been covered in an aluminum-based wrap as a precaution should the Horse Fire venture too close.
The plume of smoke from the wildfire, which is burning about 2 miles west of the outpost on Prospect Peak, is clearly visible from the lookout.
“Firefighters use an aluminized structure wrap that looks like aluminum foil, but is much more technically superior,” the U.S. Forest Service, Brider-Teton National Forest reported Tuesday. “It is designed to deflect radiant heat and embers.”
The Prospect Peak Fire Lookout Cabin is a four-panel ground cabin built in 1941 that was later decommissioned by the U.S. Forest Service, according to the National Historic Lookout Register (NHLR).
“Prospect Peak was apparently only staffed in times of high fire hazard,” according to the NHLR.
The cabin was put on the register May 10, 2022.
Firefighters use chainsaws to help clear dead fuel and creat fire lines around the Horse Fire. (U.S. Forest Service, Bridger-Teton National Forest) 
The Horse Fire burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Tuesday has come within 2 miles of a historic fire lookout post on Prospect Peak. The outpost has been covered in an aluminum-based wrap as a precaution. (U.S. Forest Service, Bridger-Teton National Forest)
Not Horsing Around
Started by lightning Friday, the Horse Fire has grown to nearly 1,000 acres and is about 6% contained, the USFS reports.
It’s the only wildfire of note now burning in Wyoming, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s inciniweb tracking website.
Another small blaze was reported Monday, also in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, but it was quickly contained at 0.2 acres, the agency reports. Smoke for what was named the Ski Fire was visible from Jackson.
It the meantime, a Type 3 incident team and 136 personnel continue to battle the Horse Fire, according to the latest inciniweb report.
It’s still centered about 7 miles west of the tiny community of Merna, Wyoming. It’s burning in “heavy downed timber and ash,” according to the report.
Fire crews continue to scout out the wildfire area and establish fire lines on the west and north perimeters. Aircraft also are being used to slow the spread of the flames and “to allow control lines to be put into place,” the USFS reports.
In the first 48 hours of fighting the Horse Fire, the effort had a hiccup when all of its air support had to be grounded when a drone was spotted flying over the fire area.
Contact Greg Johnson at greg@cowboystatedaily.com
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
