Pack Trail Fire blooms to 60,000 acres
The Pack Trail Fire raged behind homes on Highway 26 on Togwotee Pass on Saturday night. Photo by Carl Cote, The Ranger.
RIVERTON (WNE) — The Pack Trail fire bloomed to more than 60,000 acres, after a hectic Sunday saw the blaze cross Fish Creek and jump seven miles amid wind gusts of 60 mph.
The Pack Trail and Fish Creek fires merged along Bull Creek on Saturday night as low humidity, higher temps and winds helped spur them to join.
A persistent “Very High Fire Danger Rating” for the region remains in place.
More than 550 firefighters are currently at work in an attempt to head off the fire, which moved south into Strawberry Basin on Monday and into Leeds Creek.
Westward winds pushed the fire back east of Burnt Ridge; on the north end, helicopter water drops fought to suppress pockets of interior heat creeping outward. Firefighters are working to protect structures in the Gros Ventre area, and weather-permitting on Tuesday were expected to conduct strategic firing operations to the east to improve control lines and reduce the amount of dry and flammable fuels in the fire’s path.
Sprinklers and structure protection remain in place for the Pinnacle Drive and Brooks Lake areas. Fire crews are scouting for natural features to help contain the blaze, along with notifying residents under evacuation orders.
The Red Cross has set up an evacuation shelter at the recently closed Warm Valley Assisted Living Center, 5643 Highway 26 in Dubois; those needing shelter from the fire or assistance are asked to call 1-800-RED-CROSS.