Gunbarrel fire expands to 4,100 acres

Posted 8/2/08

{gallery}7_31_08/goffcreekfire{/gallery}

Smoke flows over the mountian sides and over the North Fork Highway as a result of the fire in the Shoshone National Forest adding new color to the atmosphere for Tuesday's sunset.

Tribune photo by Kara …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Gunbarrel fire expands to 4,100 acres

Posted

{gallery}7_31_08/goffcreekfire{/gallery}

Smoke flows over the mountian sides and over the North Fork Highway as a result of the fire in the Shoshone National Forest adding new color to the atmosphere for Tuesday's sunset.

Tribune photo by Kara Bacon

As of Wednesday afternoon, the lighting-caused Gunbarrel Fire had claimed 4,100 acres in the North Absaroka Wilderness between Goff and Gunbarrel creeks on the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

The fire is burning about three miles north of U.S. 14-16-20, approximately 40 miles west of Cody.

As of Wednesday, one helicopter and its six-person crew had been assigned to the fire, along with a 10-person crew and a management and planning team that specializes in long-duration fires, according to a U.S. Forest Service fire update.

“The top priority is public and firefighter safety. Other objectives include minimizing the chance of fire spreading near buildings along the North Fork corridor, and allowing the fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem,” said the update.

“An important responsibility of the fire-management group is to prepare well for unlikely worst-case scenarios. Today (Wednesday), two crews will continue work already well underway to make defensible space around lodges and other buildings closest to the fire. They will also install sprinklers that will remain in place until there is no reasonably possible need for them,” the update said.

Clint Dawson, zone fire manager for Shoshone National Forest in Cody, said the fire likely will continue to burn until the snow flies this fall.

ClickhereforanupdateontheGunbarrel,Cascade,andLeHardyfires.

Smoke flows over the mountian sides and over the North Fork Highway as a result of the fire in the Shoshone National Forest adding new color to the atmosphere for Tuesday's sunset.

Tribune photo by Kara Bacon

As of Wednesday afternoon, the lighting-caused Gunbarrel Fire had claimed 4,100 acres in the North Absaroka Wilderness between Goff and Gunbarrel creeks on the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

The fire is burning about three miles north of U.S. 14-16-20, approximately 40 miles west of Cody.

As of Wednesday, one helicopter and its six-person crew had been assigned to the fire, along with a 10-person crew and a management and planning team that specializes in long-duration fires, according to a U.S. Forest Service fire update.

“The top priority is public and firefighter safety. Other objectives include minimizing the chance of fire spreading near buildings along the North Fork corridor, and allowing the fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem,” said the update.

“An important responsibility of the fire-management group is to prepare well for unlikely worst-case scenarios. Today (Wednesday), two crews will continue work already well underway to make defensible space around lodges and other buildings closest to the fire. They will also install sprinklers that will remain in place until there is no reasonably possible need for them,” the update said.

Clint Dawson, zone fire manager for Shoshone National Forest in Cody, said the fire likely will continue to burn until the snow flies this fall.

ClickhereforanupdateontheGunbarrel,Cascade,andLeHardyfires.

Comments