Preparations Helped Save Cabins
Incident: Fool Creek Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 8/15/2007
Preparations to protect cabins in the West Fork of the Teton River drainage paid off Tuesday when the Fool Creek fire burned through the area.
Many days ago, firefighters set up sprinklers to protect the cabins in the area, known as the Massey Tract. Pumps delivered water through a network of fire hoses to sprinklers on cabin roofs and the grounds nearby. Every day at noon, firefighters started pumps so the sprinklers could keep things wet during the afternoon, when fires are most likely to burn actively.
The same preparations have been taking place every day at the Teton Pass Ski Area, the 7 Lazy P Guest Ranch near Cave Mountain Campground, and at several Forest Service backcountry cabins in the vicinity of the fire.
When firefighters left the Massey Tract area Tuesday afternoon as the fire began burning actively, the pumps were running and the sprinklers were dousing cabins. Wednesday, all the main structures were still standing, although some outbuildings, fire hose, and one pump were burned.
Three helicopters were dropping water and retardant on key areas of the Fool Creek fire Wednesday. Some areas of concern include spot fires at the head of the Waldron Creek drainage, fire that has burned along the North Fork of the Teton River road near the Elko Campground, and the northeast corner of the fire about 1 mile west of Mount Werner.
Southwest winds, relatively high temperatures, and low humidity allowed the Fool Creek fire to burn explosively Tuesday afternoon. Although those conditions were expected to persist through early afternoon Wednesday, by late afternoon forecasts called for lower temperatures, higher humidity, and winds from the east. Those conditions should slow the fire's growth.
The Fool Creek fire has now burned about 43,000 acres. The exact acreage won't be known until more accurate maps can be prepared.
The fire is still two to three miles west of the Lewis and Clark National Forest boundary. Ranchers with cattle grazing closest to the fire's edge were being contacted Wednesday so they could begin planning to move their cattle, if that becomes necessary.
No new evacuations have been ordered. The Massey Tract cabin owners and Teton Pass Ski Area had been ordered to evacuate long before the fire burned through the area Tuesday.
