The Pack Trail Fire is expected to be put out this week by snowfall.
Public Information Officer Ashley Farinacci said crews expect up to a half foot of snow Tuesday, Oct. 28. Cooler temperatures and snowfall expected later in the week will also aid suppression efforts.
“We’re really looking forward to that,” Farinacci said. “It’s going to be considered a ‘season-ending event’ and hopefully it’ll put this fire to bed.”
Farinacci said fire officials are hoping the snow sticks around to put an end to the fire season altogether but crews may still have to extinguish areas that continue to burn.
A new fire team plans to take command Oct. 29 to continue suppression efforts like managing the fire’s containment lines and removing structure protections in areas like the Upper Gros Ventre.
The lightning-caused Pack Trail fire started in mid-September and merged with another lightning-caused fire earlier this month. Exasperated by historic drought conditions, the fires have burned nearly 90,000 acres, forced evacuations and temporarily closed the Togwotee Pass Highway. No structures or lives were lost.
As of Oct. 28, the fire is about 80% contained.
