Forest service calls in more resources to fight Horse Creek Fire

JACKSON (WNE) — The Bridger-Teton National Forest called in more resources Thursday to help fight the Horse Creek Fire about 20 miles southwest of Bondurant.

The lightning-caused fire was discovered July 1. It is 35 acres in size and burning timber about 2 miles northwest of the Blind Bull warming hut in the Big Piney Ranger District, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service.

Forest service managers closed trails in the vicinity for public safety and to allow firefighters and equipment to move. Portions of the North Horse Creek Trail, Dry Beaver Trail, Greenly Creek Trail west of its intersection with Rim Trail, Rim Trail and Horse Mountain Trail are closed.

Those are separate from trail closures for the prescribed burn at Monument Ridge.

The Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the Horse Creek Fire early Thursday morning, and was brought in because the fire now exceeds the resources the Forest Service has available.

Ten firefighters and one helicopter are working on the Horse Creek Fire. Because the fire is burning in a string of conifer trees on a steep slope, the plan is to confine and contain the blaze and keep firefighters out of the snags while suppressing the fire.

The fire danger rating for the Bridger-Teton National Forest was upgraded to “high” on Tuesday. That means fires can start easily from most causes.

The Horse Creek Fire is one of two active fires in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, according to the Teton Interagency Fire map. The other is in the upper Curtis Canyon area, where a small, abandoned campfire without a fire ring was found smoldering July 5.

This story was published on July 12, 2024.