News at a Glance
by Pinedale Online!
June 29, 2007
Horse Creek Fire:
Friday, June 29, 2007, 5:00 PM Update:
Several big announcements just came in:
1. Fire Danger on the Bridger-Teton National Forest is being raised today from High to VERY HIGH.
2. Stage I Fire Restrictions are expected to be put into effect on Tuesday, July 3rd.
3. The Bridger-Teton National Forest will be holding a public meeting about the Horse Creek Fire on Sunday, July 1, at 7:00 PM at the Pinedale Library.
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We still have not received the official paperwork confirmation on the above three items, but were told this was official and we can post it.
From our on the ground observations today up at the fire, it looks like the fire is still north of South Horse Creek, just east of Prospect Peak along the ridgeline, and west of Merna Butte. The Forest Service sent a detailed map as of a little after midnight last night from IR imagery. We’ll post that, and more photos, soon.
Friday, June 29, 2007, 1:40 PM Update: Our observers on the scene report: The private home on the hill is still ok. There is one hotspot about ½ mile from the home. Fire crews appear to have held the fire back along the Hillhouse road. Trees on the north and northeast of the home are still unburned. A helicopter loaded with foam is standing by at the house if flames move closer, but they haven't had to use it yet. Crews on the ground are limbing low branches on the trees near the house to remove possible ladder fuels that would carry ground fire up into the tree tops. The main brunt of fire is still moving south quickly. The fire still appears to be in Elk Creek drainage and hasn’t moved into Maki Creek or over the ridge into Nylander/Shoberg/North Cottonwood Creek drainages yet, as of this report. On the east side, the fire is still a ridge away from Merna Butte, with open areas between the burn area and the trees of Merna Butte that could act as a fire stop. The wind appears to be clearing out the low lying smoke in the valley giving visibility again to the smoke column and Wyoming Range mountains from Marbleton, Daniel, Hwy 189 angles.
Friday, 12:45 PM Forest Service update is in. They are saying the fire is “well established” in Elk Creek at this time. They are doing mop up and burn-out operations on the northwest, north and east lines. The south edge continues to be the most challenging, with spot fires moving the fire ahead. They are saying “The fire remained within planned control lines,” and they expect a significant increase in containment as the continue their burn out operations on Friday. See the Inciweb website for their latest updates, maps and their photos from the fire. Horse Creek Fire (Inciweb)
Friday, 11:00 AM Update (still haven’t received an official Forest Service report yet today). Inciweb is reporting the Horse Creek Fire at 7005 acres, increasing in size from 5,363 acres on Thursday. Our on the scene look at the fire yesterday afternoon showed it had moved into South Horse Creek and was moving south towards the North Cottonwood Creek drainage. Smoke is very dispersed across the valley today and we are unable to see a distinct smoke column from the fire this morning. Horse Creek Fire (Inciweb)
Pinedale Entertainment Center to close July 6: The Kellen family wrote a Letter to the Editor which appeared in both the Sublette Examiner and Pinedale Roundup newspapers yesterday which stated they will be closing the doors of the Pinedale Entertainment Center to the showing of first-run movies on July 6th. “We will, however, continue with the free Children’s Summer Movie Program sponsored by the Pinedale Preschool on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m. throughout the summer.”
Rural Health Care Board appoints new member: Richard Kalber, Big Piney, was appointed to fill Garry Eiden's seat on the Rural Health Care Board at the Special Meeting on Wednesday, June 27th. “Mr. Kalber has many year’s experience serving the public on various boards and dealing with public issues. He will be an excellent addition to the Health Care Board. The District welcomes Mr. Kalber to his new appointment!” said Randy Johnson, Director of the Sublette County Rural Health Care Board.
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