Cliff Creek Fire continues to spread north of Bondurant, Wyoming

(UPDATED at 11 a.m. MDT July 22, 2016)

The DeMasters Type 2 Incident Management Team released a little more information about the Cliff Creek Fire that has forced the closure of Highway 189/191, one of the highways leading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The size is now 11,534 acres. One structure has burned.

Teton County Emergency Management issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Granite Creek area including Granite Campground, Granite Hot Springs, Jack Pine Summer Homes, and the Safari Club.

For official evacuation information check the Teton County Emergency Management web site.

The U.S. Forest Service and the Incident Management Team state in the update, as they have before, that “The fire is being actively suppressed”, but that is not entirely true. The Bridger-Teton National Forest has directed the Team to use a “confine/contain” strategy. This means they will attempt to herd it around and put out portions of the fire edge as it becomes necessary. But the objective is not to fully suppress the fire. They are no doubt “actively suppressing” some sections of the fire where it endangers private property and structures, but “confine/contain” usually refers to allowing some areas of a fire to spread unconstrained.  They may decide to allow the fire to advance unfettered to the east and northeast into the higher elevations above 9,000 feet where it will begin to run out of fuel.

It was no accident that the “actively suppressing” language was chosen for the press release. The U.S. Forest Service should not issue intentionally misleading information to the public.

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(UPDATED at 7:53 a.m. MDT July 22, 2016)

As the Cliff Creek Fire burns into its sixth day the U.S. Forest Service and DeMasters’ Type 2 Incident Management Team are not releasing much information about the fire which has closed for several days Highway 191, a major highway leading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The fire 12 air miles southeast of Hoback, Wyoming is not being totally suppressed, but is a “confine/contain” fire, which means they will attempt to herd it around and put out portions of the fire edge as it becomes necessary.

#mifc crew 3 @ 10,000+ acre #CliffCreekFire with 5% containment (Dave Bell photo) #mnfire https://t.co/JQJqVf0RYU pic.twitter.com/QfZ7BSjaYR

— Minnesota ICS (@mnics) July 22, 2016

One structure and 10,118 acres have burned. Evacuations for the community of Bondurant have been lifted.

The fire was discovered on the Bridger-Teton National Forest at 2:30pm on Sunday, July 17, approximately 5 miles north of the town of Bondurant Wyoming.

We are proud to have TMFPD resources assisting on the #CliffCreekFire in Wyoming right now. #MutualAid pic.twitter.com/Fcp0sM1Pkq

— Truckee Meadows Fire (@TMFPD) July 22, 2016

It is being managed by 620 personnel, 16 hand crews, 33 engines, and 7 helicopters at a cost to date of $2,200,000.

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(UPDATED at 11:54 a.m. MDT July 20, 2016)

The Cliff Creek Fire 3 miles north of Bondurant, Wyoming continued to spread over the last 24 hours to the north and east. It has consumed approximately 7,671 acres and one structure.

Tuesday morning DeMasters’ Type 2 Incident Management Team 7 assumed command of the fire. Their instructions from the Bridger-Teton National Forest are not to fully suppress the fire but to confine and contain it.

Numerous residences are threatened and US highway 189/191 between Bondurant and Hoback Junction is closed. Evacuations have been ordered in some areas near the fire.

The fire is staffed by 436 personnel, including 15 hand crews, 7 engines, and 4 helicopters. As of Tuesday the estimated costs of containing and confining the fire were $600,000.

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(UPDATED at 7:20 a.m. MDT July 19, 2016)

The Cliff Creek Fire 3 miles north of Bondurant, Wyoming continued to spread vigorously to the north and northeast late yesterday and last night. Our very rough and unofficial estimate puts the size at more than 5,000 acres.

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(Originally published at 6:10 p.m MDT July 18, 2016; updated at 9:45 p.m. July 18)

The Cliff Creek Fire 3 miles north of Bondurant, Wyoming has been burning for a little over 24 hours and is already causing evacuations.

The 2,400-acre fire 20 air miles southeast of Jackson has required the closure of Highway 89/191 north of Bondurant. The fire is burning on both sides of the highway.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has ordered a Type 2 Incident Management Team.

Mandatory evacuations in order for for Granite Creek area:Granite Creek Campground & Hot Springs,Jack Pine Homes,Safari Club.#CliffCreekFire

— Bridger Teton NF (@BridgerTetonNF) July 18, 2016

Here is a map of the Cliff Creek fire near Bondurant, WY pic.twitter.com/L1Wf6p3EOD

— Bridger Teton NF (@BridgerTetonNF) July 18, 2016

The fire is creating some massive pyrocumulus.

#CliffCreekFire cloud as seen from GTNP boundary on Hwy 89 north of Jackson, WY about 2:30 PM July 18, 2016. pic.twitter.com/ZN9I3rKMVf

— The Snowbirds (@thesnowbirds) July 18, 2016