Roosevelt Fire destroys 55 homes

By Tom Hallberg
Jackson Hole Daily
Via Wyoming News Exchange
 
JACKSON — The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office has completed its damage assessment in the Hoback Ranches subdivision.
Of the 150 residences, 55 were determined to be lost and 95 saved. Three earlier-reported residences were found to be well heads, garages or unestablished residences.
“Residents from the evacuated area are still not allowed to return to their homes for items or to check their homes until the evacuation has been lifted,” said a sheriff’s office press release.
Sublette County sheriff’s Sgt. Travis Bingham said it was unclear when people could return.
“We’re coming up with a plan to get people back in,” he said. “It’s going to be in small, controlled groups.”
In perhaps a sign of progress, the highway through Bondurant reopened on a nightly basis Thursday, possibly with pilot cars.
“Highway 189/191 will be open to all traffic from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. beginning tonight,” information officer Larisa Bogardus said. “The highway will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. until further notice.”
Burnout operations and the proximity of the fire to the highway necessitated the closure this week, especially because of the chance of it jumping into land north of the road.
Red-flag conditions and a change in winds caused the most active part of the Roosevelt Fire to shift to the south Thursday. Information officer Don Jaques said the large visible smoke plume Thursday was from the Lookout Mountain area.
“We’ve got some good line north of Beaver Creek,” he said. “We don’t want the fire to get too far past that.”
As of press time, the fire was 51,864 acres and 35 percent contained.
As support systems for those affected gain momentum, a scam has emerged. Scammers have been calling people in the area asking them to donate to relief efforts and to do so over the phone.
“Most legitimate places wouldn’t do that,” Bingham said.
He said the best two ways to donate are through rooseveltfireaid@gmail.com and the GoFundMe page set up by the Bondurant Community Club. The American Red Cross is working on setting up donation centers in Pinedale.
“These people have been through enough,” Bingham said, “and I hate to see someone try to take advantage of them.”