Norton Point fire in Wyoming expected to burn through the summer

Norton Point fire
Norton Point fire. USFS photo

UPDATE at 9:35 a.m. MT, July 27, 2011:

An infrared mapping flight last night revealed that the Norton Point fire has burned 9,310 9,320 acres — almost triple the last reported acreage. As we said yesterday, you will probably be hearing a lot more about this fire over the next few weeks and months. It could be at least six to nine weeks before a weather-related season ending event stops the spread of this “resource benefit” fire.

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July 26, 2011

The Norton Point fire that started on July 22 on the Shoshone National Forest in western Wyoming is expected to burn through the summer. Lightning ignited the fire, which has now blackened 3,500 acres 19 miles north of Dubois and 41 miles east of Grand Teton National Park. Apparently a fire strategy of something less than full suppression has been chosen.

A “short” version of Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A assumed command of the fire Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of personnel on the fire up to 12, with 60 expected by the end of the day.

Here is an excerpt from a news release by the Incident Management Team today:

The Norton Point Fire requires more full-time attention than the Wind River Ranger District can provide and still attend to local needs. The District brought in Rocky Mountain Interagency Incident Management Team A, with specialized expertise in long-duration fires.

Incident Commander Todd Richardson leads a dozen experienced managers from Wyoming and Colorado. While managing the fire day-to-day, the Team also will plan responses to likely fire growth for the rest of the summer. Working under the District’s direction, the Team took responsibility for the fire at 6 a.m. today [Tuesday].

Norton Point fire map 7-26-2011
Map of the Norton Point fire, showing heat detected by satellites on July 26, 2011

You may be hearing more about this fire in the coming weeks and months.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

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