Shingle Mill Fire Grows in Kemmerer
Incident: Shingle Mill Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 9/17/2008
The Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is continuing to manage the Shingle Mill Fire to improve the vegetation and Forest health on the District. At last report, the Shingle Mill fire has burned 187 acres in the upper portion of Shingle Mill Creek in the Hams Fork drainage approximately 1 mile southeast of the Elk Creek Guard Station. The fire started from a lightning strike that likely occurred Thursday, September 11 when a weather event moved through the area. There are no structures threatened by the fire. The fire has been active this afternoon and the Forest expects to see an increase in the number of acres treated by this fire.
This fire is being managed to accomplish objectives outlined in the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan, which allow lightning-caused fires to burn within the Forest under strict management conditions and guidelines. Expected benefits from this fire include removal of accumulated ground fuels, improvement of wildlife habitat and fire regime condition class, and maintenance of natural plant succession, all of which are fire-dependant within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Shingle Mill Fire will be routinely monitored by air and by ground, and fire management actions will be taken as determined necessary.
"The projected weather forecast will likely change the fire behavior we saw today in the days to come," said Kemmerer District Ranger Tracy Hollingshead. Hollingshead expects the cooler temperatures and forecasted moisture to slow the burn down significantly. "It is still an active fire area," said Hollingshead, "and we want people to be careful when traveling near the area," she said. "There are no area closures right now and we will continue to monitor the fire and only implement temporary closures if it is necessary," Hollingshead said.
-###-
