Pinedale Ranger District Urges Caution
Incident: New Fork Wildland Fire
Released: 8/26/2008
The New Fork Fire on the Pinedale Ranger District continues to burn inside the Bridger Wilderness Area and has been putting up more smoke in the last several days. The fire ignited on July 29 on the bank of New Fork Lake north of the town of Pinedale and has burned 13,400 acres to date. Currently there are two fire specialists on site monitoring the fire.
According to Mark Randall, Assistant Fire Management Officer, "This fire is probably going to keep burning until snowfall." Randall also said that fire activity will greatly increase whenever the weather is hot and dry like it was this last weekend causing visible smoke plumes.
"One thing we really want to stress to people who plan to camp and hike in the Wilderness is safety. Even areas of the fire that are no longer actively burning are extremely dangerous." Some of the hazards that exist are falling snags, rolling rocks and other debris, burned out stump holes, and hidden pockets of heat.
Forest Officials advise visitors to the Bridger Wilderness to avoid hiking trails out of Spring Creek Park Trailhead which are Trapper Lake Trail and Glimpse Lake Trail. Campsites to steer clear of when planning itineraries include Trapper Lake, Little Trapper Lake, Section Corner Lake, Prospector Lake, Trail Lake, and Glimpse Lake. "These areas aren't closed but we want people to use some common sense and be safe when they're out there." Randall stressed.
Fire danger on the Bridger-Teton National Forest is at Very High. All visitors are urged to use extreme caution with fire. Never leave a fire unattended and always be sure to completely extinguish all campfires.
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