Jackson Hole Daily, Mike Koshmrl- An active wildfire crested the high ridge over Granite Creek on Monday afternoon, prompting an evacuation of the ranches, homes and commercial hot springs that line the picturesque valley below.
A day after the Cliff Creek Fire was ignited by lightning in the Hoback Canyon, jumped the river, grew to more than 2,200 acres (it is now 4500 acres) and threw embers up to half a mile, activity died down somewhat.
But the spread of the fire Monday to the northwest over Shoal Creek and toward Granite Creek turned the attention of Teton Interagency Fire crews toward the protection of private lands, Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor Tricia O’Connor said.
“We evacuated Granite Creek, and that’s probably going to be our big focus,” O’Connor said. “That’s more important than trees and grass burning up.”
Because of the rugged landscape and hazardous conditions, firefighters were not trying to cut line to contain the Cliff Creek Fire on the ridges above Granite Creek on Monday, she said.
The blaze, considered 2,200 acres at press time, is also spreading less actively on the south side nearer Bondurant. It’s burning in thick, contiguous forest and is torching and running through the crowns of groups of trees, according to the Bridger-Teton.
“I don’t think we have an updated perimeter, but we knew it grew,” O’Connor said of the fire’s growth Monday.
A national “type 2” fire team that will operate out of a Bondurant command post takes over management of the Cliff Creek Fire at 6:30 a.m. today. About 30 personnel, multiple helicopters and hand crews will be part of the team, which is trained to handle more complex wildfires.
Teton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matt Carr, who headed the evacuation effort at Granite Creek, said his officers were going door to door Monday.
“Once we clear the area out, we’ll set up a blockade, not allowing access back in,” Carr said.
Residents, the sergeant said, are not being forced from their homes, but the recommendation is for them to leave for their own safety.
“If they choose to leave, they can’t come back,” he said.
Other areas evacuated include Cliff Creek Road, the Black Powder Guest Ranch, Kozy Campground and residences in Bondurant west of the Elk Horn Bar.
Evacuees needing a place to stay are being directed to Colter Elementary School, where the American Red Cross has arranged services. The Red Cross also set up an evacuation center at the Pinedale High School gym.
At press time, Highway 89/191 was closed in Hoback Canyon but scheduled to open up at 10 a.m. today. For up-to-date conditions go to WyoRoad.info.
Two other small, remote fires southeast of Jackson are not considered a priority at this time, O’Connor said.
Meteorologists are forecasting less than ideal conditions for combating wildfires in the days to come.
“It doesn’t look like we have any rain in the forecast, and winds are supposed to pick up on Wednesday,” O’Connor said. “The biggest issue for this fire is going to be the wind.”
In the west zone of the Bridger-Teton, the forecast calls for “very dry and windy conditions with hot temperatures and critically dry fuels,” according to the National Weather Service’s Riverton office.