The onset of consistent winter conditions and the lack of fire activity in the Mullen Fire burn area has enabled the Medicine Bow National Forest to lift the area closure that has been in effect since mid-September.
The Mullen Fire in Medicine Bow National Forest is at a 95% containment rate, but people in the northern Albany County area will still likely see some smoke columns and fire over the weekend.
Despite the sub-zero temperatures and a foot of snow, the Mullen Fire is still smoldering.
While the Mullen Fire is at 81% containment, the work to subdue the fire isn’t completely done, so crews will spend the weekend monitoring hot spots and repairing damage from fire suppression efforts over the last month.
As of Monday morning, the fire is at a 69% containment rate and just a little more than 800 people are working to combat it.
While the Mullen Fire’s activity has been low most of this week, fire crews are establishing a fire line west of Centennial to prepare for the worst case scenario, an official said Friday morning.
Michael Williams, the public information officer for the Southern Area Blue Team (a type I management group), said that the fire hadn’t grown since the Wednesday night update, currently affecting 176,371 acres. It is still at a 34% containment rate.
It was a slow Wednesday when it came to Mullen Fire activity, officials confirmed in an evening update.
Firefighters have expanded the containment line around the fire from 30% to 34%.
The fire has now affected 176,047 acres and is 30% contained. The estimated containment date is still Oct. 30.
Winds are expected to pick up again Tuesday night and Wednesday, with gusts expected to reach 50 mph to 70 mph.
The fire that’s burning in Medicine Bow National Forest only grew by 29 acres on Sunday and has affected 175,564 acres as of Monday morning. The containment rate is at 27%, 2% more than Sunday.
The predicted snowfall came as expected to a portion of southeast Wyoming on Sunday, providing much-needed relief for crews helping battle the Mullen Fire in Medicine Bow National Forest.
Although firefighters on the Mullen Fire were dealing Sunday with brisk winds from the northwest, officials were confident that the fire’s leading northeastern edge would be contained by Monday.
Environmental activism through the ‘Environmental Industrial Complex’ short circuits the system and takes management away from resource professionals and shifts it into the hands of the Environmental Elites.
The couple who first reported the Mullen Fire believe the Forest Service should have done more to fight the fire in the early stages.
Cheyenne’s sky was again full of smoke and ash as the 170,000-acre Mullen Fire continues to rage 75 miles west of Cheyenne.
Less-than-ideal conditions to fight the blaze will continue for a few more days although Wednesday will see a decrease in wind speeds.
Firefighting officials said the weather coupled with excess fuel loads are making fighting the 157k-acre very difficult.
Gordon said the 151,000-acre Mullen Fire is proof that proper forest management is not happening.
The Mullen Fire is expected to be “very active” this week as above average temperatures and dry conditions continue.
