As the Dollar Lake Fire near Green River Lakes burned thousands of acres of dense timber over the weekend, the Willow Creek forest fire erupted at the south end of Star Valley and forced people from their homes.
One Hundred forty-one firefighters are fighting the blazes on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. There have been no official reports of lost structures or homes.
The Star Valley Willow Creek Fire was first reported Friday and swelled to almost 4,000 acres by Sunday. As it licked the asphalt of U.S. 89 — a scenic byway between Wyoming and Idaho — on Saturday night, it forced an hours-long closure of the route, creating a backup a couple of miles long.
State Sen. Dan Dockstader, who owns the Star Valley Independent, witnessed a standoff at the highway’s Salt River Pass on Saturday night. Firefighters kept the blaze at bay there, stopping it from crossing from the west side of the highway to the east.
“Some would explode in orange, some would explode in white light.”
Dan Dockstader
“I got up there [at] the same time the thing was exploding, blowing up,” Dockstader said. He photographed trees torching.
“When they go, there’s that deep sound,” he said. “All of a sudden ‘whoosh’ and an explosion. Some would explode in orange, some would explode in white light.
“It was doing its own weather picture up on top … mini tornados,” he said of the nighttime scene on the pass. “It was burning at leisure and fast.”
Firefighters held the blaze at the highway.
“Hotshots lined up on both sides – watched throughout the night,” he said. “Big embers would float over the top of the highway. Those guys were on it.”
Closures, evacuations
Bridger-Teton Supervisor Chad Hudson closed portions of the national forest area around the pass, also known as South End Pass, and published a map of the restriction. Emergency managers also issued an evacuation notice for an area south of Smoot.
A shelter opened for displaced residents at a National Guard facility in Star Valley, Dockstader said, but wasn’t really needed.
“Star Valley is a very well-connected community,” he said. “People reach out and take care.”
A teacher brought ice cream from Shumway Farms for the firefighters, Dockstader said. Sunday, he visited two churches.
“Prayers in both places were to bless the firefighters,” Dockstader said.
“Rain has subdued the fire this afternoon,” he said Sunday, although it’s uncertain whether it was the result of the supplication. “Even hail accumulation in some areas.”
At the Dollar Lake Fire north of Pinedale, the Sierra Front/Nevada Team 5 estimated the blaze, which was first reported Thursday, to be almost 10,000 acres Sunday. It forced the evacuation of Green River Lakes campground and rural outposts within a five-mile radius of Dollar Lake.
The fire team ordered overnight flights Sunday to map the blaze and expects to have updated acreage Monday. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of logistical work going on.
“We’re setting up a camping site for the firefighters, yurts for the incident management team to work out of,” said Tammy Boyd, spokesperson for the Sierra Front/Nevada Team 5. The group is marshalling other facilities including kitchens, toilets and showers.
Supervisor Hudson also closed a large area of national forest south and west of the big bend of the Green River above the community of Kendall. The causes of both fires are under investigation
“The dense lodgepole with dead and down 1000-hour fuels (3- to 8-inch diameter timber) produced extreme fire behavior, sustained crown runs, and spotting with long-range running,” firefighters reported. Steep slopes and prevailing winds will carry the blaze, they said.
“The dead and down lodgepole will be in alignment with winds and topography,” according to an assessment.
Although the fire is burning toward the wilderness, an outfitter’s camp, the Green River Lakes elk feedground’s hay sheds and cabins, the Green River Lakes campground and the Green River Lake Lodge are all in its path.
Fire managers estimated containment on Oct. 15. They will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Sublette County Library.