Firefighting crews working a pair of uncontained wildfires in western Wyoming can expect some help from Mother Nature this week.
Late August is usually hot and dry, perfect for turning Wyoming’s forests and grasslands into tinderboxes, said Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day. This week, however, will be abnormally cool and wet.
“We’re extremely fortunate, because late August really can be hot and dry, but at least for the next five days, it’s going to be cooler, cloudy and humidity is going to be high,” Day told Cowboy State Daily. “The weather is going to help more than it’s going to harm, and it’s going to help quite a bit if they can get some of those heavy rains.”
That’s welcome news for firefighters and people living in and around the Willow Creek and Dollar Lake fires, which were both discovered late last week and blew up to thousands of acres quickly.
Willow Creek Fire
The Willow Creek Fire is burning through dense forest and brush in the southern Star Valley about four miles south of Smoot.
It exploded to more than 3,800 acres by Saturday evening, forcing the closure of U.S. Highway 89 for a time. It’s since reopened, but the fire is still 0% contained, according to the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF).
Even with the fire burning so close, those in Smoot are going about their business as usual, said Carrie Bower, who works at the local U.S. Post Office branch.
“It’s pretty smoky still, but we don’t see any flames,” she said. “Everything’s been going good today.”
Although the highway is open in both directions, the fire continues to burn nearby, the BTNF reports.
“Though the highway has reopened, all travelers need to be cautious of fire vehicles and equipment in the area as well as impacts from smoke,” the report says. “Drivers are asked not to pull over or park on the side of the road to view fire operations.”
The fire remains on the west side of the highway and so far hasn’t jumped the road.
“The primary objectives for today (Monday) will be to keep the fire west of Highway 89 and minimize impacts to private property.”
Crews also are working to protect and assess structures in the area, as well as work around a WyoLink communications site.
The Willow Creek Fire as it burns just south of Smoot in western Wyoming. (U.S. Forest Service) 
The Willow Creek Fire as it burns just south of Smoot in western Wyoming. (U.S. Forest Service) 
The Willow Creek Fire as it burns just south of Smoot in western Wyoming. (U.S. Forest Service)
Dollar Lake Fire
Like the Willow Creek Fire, the Dollar Lake Fire burning about 40 miles north of Pinedale reports 0% containment and moderate growth.
It’s at an estimated 11,510 acres Monday and continues to spread “predominantly to the south and to the east,” said Tammy Boyd, spokesperson for the Sierra Front/Nevada Team 5 incident command team in charge of the firefighting response.
The Green River is keeping the fire contained to the west and north, she added.
“Movement east primarily has been sort of following the Green River, so it’s moving toward the Green River Lakes trailhead and toward the Bridger wilderness boundary,” Boyd said.
There are two groups working on protecting structures within the fire boundary, “and to the best of our knowledge, we have not lost any structures,” she said.
Day’s forecast is a breath of fresh air for the 276 personnel working the fire, Boyd said.
“The weather (so far) actually has contributed to fire growth,” she said. “But monsoonal moisture is finally moving into the area, so that will help, but we still have to pay attention to the winds.”
Emergency
In response to the Dollar Lake and Willow Creek fires, Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order Monday declaring those emergencies.
He signed a similar order last week referencing the Red Canyon, Spring Creek and Sleeper Ranch fires, which combined have burned close to 150,000 acres in the Bighorn Basin of northern Wyoming.
Those fires are all reporting no growth and significant containment.
• Sleeper Ranch: Northeast of Meetteetse, 20,657 acres, 90% containment.
• Red Canyon: 11 miles east of Thermopolis, 124,709 acres, 75% containment.
• Spring Creek: 10 miles southeast of Ten Sleep, 3,599 acres. 95% containment.
Predicting the weather is never exactly precise, but Day came as close as a weatherman can of saying these fires are going to get rained on this week.
“At the very least, I am 100% confident of the cloudy, cooler weather with higher humidity for the next five days,” he said. “That’s going to help a lot. Then the chance of the fires getting rained on is very good.”
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
