Fire crews continue efforts to suppress the Leeds Creek Fire on the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Yesterday’s cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity helped moderate fire activity and smoke. Due to predicted hotter, drier conditions over the next few days, with gusty winds of up to 40 mph, expect to see more active fire and smoke in the area.
The Leeds Creek Fire is currently 1,230 acres in size with 13 % containment, and is burning in mixed conifer, areas of logging slash and heavy dead and down fuels approximately 18 miles southwest of Dubois, WY. The fire was reported at 10:47 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2024, by Forest Service staff who spotted smoke from the Union Pass area. Smoke from the fire may be visible from the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), Dubois and Pinedale. Cause of the fire is unknown.
Bridger-Teton fire managers and personnel are working in close coordination with the Shoshone National Forest and Sublette County Unified Fire and appreciate the collaboration and shared resources that enhance fire management strategies. Resources assigned to the fire include a type 3 Incident Commander (IC), a helicopter, 3 dozers, 2 type 2 crews, 8 smoke jumpers, a wildland fire module, 2 resource advisors, multiple fire engines and a water tender. Ninety-five personnel are currently staffing the fire.
Fire managers continue to identify areas to suppress the fire using direct and indirect firefighting strategies. Crews are working to put in additional dozer line and will reinforce those lines with burnout operations to lock up the fire’s edge and gain containment. The Forest Service uses all available strategies and tools to suppress wildfires, and public and firefighter safety are the top priorities for fire managers.
A pending area closure order is expected for public and firefighter safety, and the public will be notified once a closure is in place.
An InciWeb page has been established for the Leeds Creek Fire. Keep up to date on the fire by visiting https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
