UPDATE: July 30 at 10:16 a.m.
The following is a social media post from the Park County Sheriff’s Office:
Summary: The Clearwater Fire started on Friday, July 19th, 2024, in the early afternoon. The fire is located in the Elk Fork vicinity. The location of the fire is very difficult terrain that makes suppression efforts challenging. The fire cause was from lightning. Fire activity occurred within the Elk Fork canyon moving towards Highway 14/16/20 corridor, whereby the Elk Fork campground, Wapiti campground, Wapiti Ranger Station, and Pagoda Summer Homes were evacuated in a multi-agency approach. With firefighting operations and smoke on the highway, the Highway Patrol temporarily closed the highway from the East Entrance to near Wapiti, with WYDOT delivering electronic signs for smoke and safety warnings, and an ambulance was staffed on site for public and firefighter safety. No structures were lost and firefighters were able to protect vehicles left at the corrals in Elk Fork. No fire crossed the highway to the north, and no spread likely occurred south up the Elk Fork drainage due to prevailing winds. Pumps were run in the Pagoda summer homes to raise humidity and wet fuels. One engine was left staffed to patrol the highway overnight. Highway 14/16/20 is open.
Closures: Elk Fork Campground, Wapiti Campground, Wapiti Ranger Station are all closed. A road and trail closure is in effect at NFS Road #424, Elk Fork Road and NFS Trail # 760, Elk Fork Trail. The purpose of this Order is to protect human health and safety from the Clearwater fire. More information can be found: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detai…/shoshone/alerts-notices/…
Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior: The fire is burning through timber, brush and thick, dead and down fuels on steep slopes. While winds are still forecasted to be strong this afternoon, there will be some relief with higher relative humidity and lower temperatures today.
Quick Facts Fire location: 11 miles West of Wapiti, Wyoming
Size: 1,000 acres estimate
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 101
Start Date: 7/19/2024
Cause: Lightning
Incident Commander: Jon Warder, Wyoming Type 3
Online Links:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wyshf-clearwater-fire Shoshone National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/shoshone
Smoke and Air Quality: https://www.AirNow.gov
Park County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkCountySheriffCodyWY/
Actions: Resources will begin a rapid assessment of fire activity to update engagement for the day, focusing on protecting critical values at risk. Aerial operations will include using a Type 1 helicopter to perform water drops to and unmanned aerial systems for mapping.
Resources will continue reducing fuels near lodges and summer homes in the Shoshone National Forest. Significant fuels reduction has occurred at the Bill Cody Ranch. Installation of sprinklers and other structure protection equipment will occur there today. Thinning and sprinkler system installation will also occur around the Wapiti Ranger Station. Cooperators have been engaged to identify evacuations as needed, and suppression actions to take near structures if needed.
Important Information: Risk to responders and public safety remain the highest priority for the incident management team. The Clearwater fire has not been the only fire contributing to the smoke in the air. Smoke from fires in Canada as well as Idaho and the Northwest have been a steady influence across the area for many days. Use the link above for ‘AirNow’ to check current conditions and try to plan your outdoor activities when air quality is at a tolerable level. There are no fire restrictions in place on the Shoshone National Forest, however as a reminder this is the time of year to be vigilant about possible ignition sources. When dousing a campfire, ‘drown, stir, feel for heat, and repeat’ is the preferred method.
UPDATE: July 29 at 9:57 p.m.
From Park County Sheriff’s Office:
The east entrance of Yellowstone national park is closed to outbound traffic. You can still enter the park if needed.
