Gunbarrel Fire Update 8-18-08
Incident: Gunbarrel Wildland Fire
Released: 8/18/2008
Fire activity is increasing as conditions continue to warm and dry. Weather forecasts call for unstable atmospheric conditions that will likely lead to more smoke throughout the valley over the next few days. Fire behavior is expected to increase as temperature increases and humidity decreases. Hunters are cautioned to be aware of interior burning within the fire area as well as snags, flash floods, and over head aviation operations.
Landowners and firefighters noted this increased activity Sunday on the east and west flanks of the fire, and increased fire activity was observed in the upper Big Creek drainage. Some additional fire activity has been reported in the upper Sweetwater Creek area. Fire crews are focusing their operations at the Libby Creek and Mormon Creek areas, to limit fire movement toward the highway.
Gunbarrel Fire Statistics at a Glance:
- Time/Date Started: July 26, 2008
- Location: 40 miles west of Cody, WY north of Hwy 14-16-20.
- Cause: Lightning
- Estimated Cost: $4,880,000
- Fuels: Heavy dead and down timber with 50-80% beetle killed trees in spruce/fir.
- Size: 42,148 acres.
- Resources Committed:
- 1 Type I Crew, 1 Type II crew, 1 medium helicopter, 1 light helicopter
- 7 engines, 2 water tenders and approximately 151 personnel
- 2 Fire Use modules
