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Fontenelle Fire

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Hey Jody...we have been lucky here, north of the fire, that the winds have kept the smoke cloud away from us. Daniel and Pinedale on the other hand have been terrible. I have friends expecting their 2nd baby in a month who have left their home as the smoke is aweful, headed to Bondurant to escape to clearer skies. The fire is now 25,000 acres. Pretty impressive as it's only been going for a handful of days now. Feeling for the cattlemen down there. It's already a bad drought and now their forest pasture is forcing them back home with their cattle and no where to go. Our forest allotment burnt here in 2007 and we were lucky the allotment south of us wasn't being utilized and we were able to get it. These guys are in a way bad situation! Can you guys see the smoke cloud from your neck of the woods?
 
just see the smoke over top of the moutains to the east , lower valley to the north you can actually see more smoke, one of the sheep said they were taking supplies to a herders camp when the saw the fire start a feww miles away
 
Here are pictures I took at 5pm tonite from our place.
Fontenelle_Fire_2012_002.jpg

Merna Butte with the big smoke plume blowing up.
Fontenelle_Fire_2012_007.jpg

And the smoke directly east towards Pinedale. We had a few pieces of ash here this morning falling but Pinedale has been "snowing" all day.
Fontenelle_Fire_2012_005.jpg
 
Status: The Fontenelle Fire is burning on the Bridger-Teton National Forest approximately 17 miles west of Big Piney. The fire was reported on June 24, 2012 and is under investigation. At this time the burned area is measured at almost 23,000 acres.

Objectives for the Fire:
· Provide for firefighter and public safety
· Minimize impacts to oil/gas infrastructure & restore access as soon as safely possible
· Prepare and protect structures in Snider Basin
· Keep the fire to the east of Clear Creek

Recent Events: High winds caused active fire behavior throughout the day. The fire's spread has continued in heavy fuels and slowed when reaching sagebrush/grass. The fire has progressed through the Fish Creek drainage into the Middle Piney Creek area.

A meeting between incident personnel and industry managers took place today to coordinate protection of the natural gas infrastructure. At this time, no wells have been damaged by the fire.

The decision was made this evening to mobilize a National Incident Management Team (NIMO). The six-person NIMO team will provide additional fire management and logistical support.

Today's Strategy: Firefighters strengthened the anchor point on the southwest corner of the fire and constructed fireline on the left and right flanks. Two additional 20 person fire crews are expected to arrive tomorrow to assist with suppression. Structure protection is in place at the Middle Piney summer home area.

Forecast: A Red Flag warning was extended until 9:00 pm tomorrow evening.

Closures: Road closures at present extend from the forest boundary at the top of Bare Pass at Red Castles, west to N. Piney Meadows and Tri Basin Divide, south to Cheese Pass, Mount Isabel, and Red Park, east to the junction of LaBarge Creek Road and the forest boundary, and north to Bare Pass. Further closures may be needed to ensure firefighter and public safety. The public is asked to be cautious when driving on the LaBarge Road between Hwy. 189 to the closure at the forest boundary as there may be large fire engines, fire traffic and impact from smoke.
 
Over 37,000 acres this morn...so far hasn't hit any private land and supposed to have calm winds today enabling firefighters to contain it more; only 5% containment so far.
 
Wyoming Wind said:
Over 37,000 acres this morn...so far hasn't hit any private land and supposed to have calm winds today enabling firefighters to contain it more; only 5% containment so far.


That means that 95% is still out of control.
 
Fontenelle Fire: Fire crews will continue to secure anchor points while taking actions to protect oil and gas infrastructure. Crews will also continue structure protection in Middle Piney Housing, Snider Guard Station, Scaler Guard Station, Clear Creek Guard Station and communication site. In addition, firefighters will gather field intelligence as conditions permit.
Growth Potential: High. Terrain Difficulty: High
Remarks:
The Fontenelle Fire is burning on USFS, BLM, state and private land. With Haines levels of five over the past two days, the fire has grown an average of 4,000 acres a day. Haines levels are predicted to be six over the next two days. Large fire growth continues to place substantial strain on helium plant construction (delaying contributions to the nation's critical helium supply and employment of 300+ construction workers) and oil/gas production.
 

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