Editor’s Note: This is a rapidly changing story. For the latest information, click the links. Updated Sept. 4, 12:20p.m.
Fremont County has issued an immediate evacuation for property owners just West of Dubois due to the Fish Creek Fire as it continues to grow in size.
The level 3 “Go” evacuation order went into effect Tuesday afternoon after crews responded to spot fires from fallen embers on the Northern side of the Togwotee Pass highway. The overwhelming majority of the nearly 18,000-square-foot fire continues to burn South of it.
Highway 26/287 remains temporarily closed between the east side of Grand Teton National Park and Dubois because of increased smoke and decreased visibility from the Fish Creek Fire. The roadway closed on the afternoon of Sept. 2 and there’s currently no date set for when it might re-open.
The lightning-caused fire was started on Aug. 16. Hot winds, low humidity and warm temperatures all helped the fire grow and advance towards the highway over the weekend. As of the afternoon of Sept. 4, the fire is 54 percent contained, meaning the crews have finished about half of the actions they want to take to confine the blaze and protect the road and nearby cabins.
Cooler and potentially wetter weather is expected for the first half of the week, followed by warmer and drier weather starting on Sept. 5.
The latest updates about the fire will be posted to InciWeb and the latest updates about the status of Highway 26/287 will be posted on the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Travel Information Map.
