Evacuations remain in place

Thursday’s cooler weather and rain helped limit the growth of the Hunter Peak Fire, which has burned an estimated 1,347 acres.

Evacuations remain in place for structures along County Road XUX (Squaw Creek). The fire is zero percent contained as of this morning (Friday).

A public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at the Painter Store in Crandall.

No structures have been lost, but 95 structures are currently threatened by the fire, according to InciWeb.

The fire is burning in the Shoshone National Forest, 3 miles west of Hunter Peak and 3 miles south of Squaw Creek.

Two hundred and sixteen firefighters are on the scene, with more arriving today.

Fire crews worked to construct firelines behind structures and around the fire north of Squaw Creek Road. They will continue to construct firelines on the southern, western and northern sides of the fire. A team will assess structures in the Clarks Fork and Crandall Creek drainages today (Friday).

Another round of wet thunderstorms are forecast over the fire area today. Weather conditions are expected to be relatively cool and wet going into the weekend, with a chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday. The forecast calls for warmer and drier conditions early next week.

Temporary trail closures are in place in the vicinity of the Hunter Peak Fire, including North Crandall (Trail 609) and Squaw Creek (Trail 610).

Two Super Scooper firefighting aircraft continue to dip water out of the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. The speed limit for the North Fork highway along the reservoir has been lowered to 45 mph with no stopping allowed. Due to water-scooping aircraft activity, the reservoir will also be closed west of the line running between Eagle Point and Spring Creek. The speed limit for the North Fork highway along the reservoir has been lowered to 45 mph with no stopping allowed. The reservoir will also be closed west of the line running between Eagle Point and Spring Creek.

The fire was discovered Tuesday evening, and the cause remains under investigation.

Other resources on the scene include four Type I crews, one Type II initial attack crew, two dozers, 11 engines, three Type I helicopters, one Type II helicopter, one Type III helicopter and one air attack platform.

Twin Lakes Fire

The Twin Lakes fire burning southwest of Meeteetse has scorched an estimated 1,400 acres as of Friday. A Type 2 team is taking control of the fire today (Friday).

The fire started Monday evening and is burning in rough terrain and steep canyons, located approximately 19 miles south/southwest of Meeteetse and west of Grass Creek.

The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.

The BLM and Hot Springs County have temporarily closed Grass Creek Road above the junction with Little Grass Creek Road and Enos Creek Road above the last oil and gas tank battery.

Hot Springs County and BLM engines, as well as smokejumpers and other hand crews, are on scene and additional crews are on the way, according to InciWeb.

Whit Fire

The Whit Fire burning west of Cody is now 84 percent contained. The fire has burned 12,387 acres.

Resources are being released as firelines are secured. Crews, equipment and air resources are being made available for dispatch to other incidents, according to InciWeb.

Temporary trail closures in the vicinity of the fire remain in place. The following trails are closed: Green Creek, Twin Creek and Sheep Mountain Trails. More information on the closures can be found at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/4921/.