Fire Gets More Active
Incident: Fool Creek Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 8/3/2007
The Fool Creek fire became active on Friday, Aug. 3, as a cold front passed over the area. Relative humidity was lower than expected Friday afternoon. At 2 p.m. plumes of smoke were seen around Mt. May. At 3:15 p.m., fire flared on the west side of Mt. Lockhart.
The fire is still an estimated two miles from the Teton Pass ski area.
Fire was also seen backing downhill near Wrong Creek and the fire was burning actively on its north flank.
Firefighters got pumps and sprinklers running at the cabins at Sabido and Wrong Creek and plan to do the same tomorrow as a precaution when the fire is expected to get active again.
The Gooseberry cabin isn't currently threatened and so two firefighters remain there running a pump and sprinkler system to protect it.
Firefighters completed setting up sprinkler systems in the West Fork of the Teton River area.
Two helicopters dropped water on hot spots in the Olney Creek area until winds made conditions at the dip site unsafe.
The fire is currently estimated to have burned 23,499 acres.
Saturday, Aug. 4, the weather forecast calls for windy conditions but slightly cooler temperatures. Saturday's west winds are predicted to shift to the north in the evening. On Sunday, forecasters expect winds from the east to bring higher humidity and a break in the intense burning seen on Friday and expected on Saturday.
On Saturday, firefighters plan to set up a portable retardant plant in the Ear Mountain area. This will allow helicopters to drop fire retardant instead of plain water. The retardant won't evaporate as quickly as water does under the dry conditions at the Fool Creek fire.
As part of the operation, firefighters will set up a 10,000-gallon "pumpkin." A "pumpkin" is like a very large orange wading pool and easy for pilots to see. Retardant or water is pumped into the pumpkin so helicopters can drop their buckets into it to fill them.
Firefighters will also complete setting up sprinklers at the 7 Lazy P guest ranch and the Teton Pass ski area.
