So far, the fire is doing lots of good. It has advanced, but not increased in acreage. The Forest Service still reports it at 5% contained, but the terrain is so rough, it is difficult to fight except by air. They do have some air support in, as well as about 120 firefighters. The weather has been dry, but not windy. Much of the fire is on private land. The Medicine Bow Forest is full of old mining claims, left over from the glory days of the Ferris-Haggerty copper mine–just up the creek from the heart of the fire.
Here’s a report from the Rawlins Daily Times…sure hope they’re right about the rain.
Map provided by the U.S. Forest Service
West Battle Creek Fire
The West Battle Creek Fire began Monday afternoon two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary and one mile south of Highway 70. It is burning through 93 acres of the Sierra Madre Range of the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 5:30 am
By Kate Snyder ksnyder@rawlinstimes.com | 0 comments
Ninety-three acres of rugged terrain is burning in the Sierra Madre Range of the Medicine Bow National Forest. The fire, dubbed the West Battle Creek Fire, began Monday afternoon two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary and one mile south of Wyoming Highway 70.
A local incident command team has taken command of the fire, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service in Medicine Bow.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported, said Aaron Voos, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Forest Service.
“It’s still at zero containment,” he said. “We’re a little concerned about the (dry) weather.”
Engines from Carbon County and the U.S. Forest Service responded, the press release stated. A helicopter and a single engine air tanker were also assigned to the fire.
The cause of the wildfire is unknown at this time.
Voos said more resources are in transit, and by the end of the day Tuesday, he estimated about 100 personnel working at the fire site.
“It’s really not a good place for engines,” said Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford. “It’s pretty rugged.”
The Lost Creek Campground and the Baby Lakes Trailhead were evacuated and are closed, Voos said.
A cold front is set to move into the fire area on Wednesday and is expected to bring rain through the weekend, the press release stated.
For more information about the fire, call 307-745-2378, visit InciWeb.org or #WestBattleCreekFire on Twitter.
Ladder Ranch
