Western, WY – Teton Interagency fire managers have lowered the fire danger rating to HIGH in the Teton and Wind fire danger rating areas (FDRA). The Wyoming FDRA remains at VERY HIGH. It is important to note that despite the lowering of the rating, the chance for fires to start easily and spread quickly remains.

Fire Managers are advising all public lands users and particularly campers and hunters, to use caution when building and maintaining campfires. Attention throughout the fall should also be given to identifying other sources that could ignite a wildfire, such as discarded cigarettes or hot mufflers on vehicles parked in tall, dry grass. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions remain in effect across the Bridger-Teton National Forest, limiting fires to only developed campgrounds and the Teton and Gros Ventre Wilderness areas.

Always make sure that campfires are thoroughly extinguished before leaving a fire unattended. This is effectively done by stirring coals and other burned materials with water until cool. Even if your fire is a relatively small warming fire, the fire should be dead out before you leave the site.

The number one culprit of human-caused fires that require the attention of Teton Interagency fire personnel is escaped campfires which are not fully extinguished. So far in 2020 there have been 233 unattended or abandoned campfires discovered across the Teton Interagency Dispatch area. In the last 48 hours 5 fires have been discovered across the dispatch area, all were confirmed or suspected to be small warming fires left abandoned to spread on their own. The location of each of these fires was in a place where camp and warming fires are prohibited due to the current fire restrictions.

Additional fire safety messages to recreationists are below. Hunters, campers, and other public land users need to follow basic fire safety rules:

• Under the current restrictions, fires are only permitted in developed campgrounds and in the Teton and Gros Ventre Wilderness areas.
• Keep your campfire small and under control; make it only as big as you need it.
• Keep a shovel and a water container nearby to douse escaped embers.
• Do not park vehicles in tall dry grass, since hot tailpipes can cause fine fuels to catch on fire.
• Remember that any ignition – cigarettes, campfires, gunfire, vehicles – could be the cause of a wildland fire, as grass and other vegetation is dry and extremely flammable.
• Explosives and exploding targets are not allowed on local federal lands.
• Fireworks are not allowed on federal lands.

For more information on the current fire restrictions visit TetonFires.com. To report a wildfire, abandoned or unattended campfire please call Teton Interagency Dispatch at 307.739.3630.