(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.
****
(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.
****
(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.
Continue reading “Cliff Creek Fire continues to spread north of Bondurant, Wyoming”
