Fire
Wyoming’s Roosevelt Fire near Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has continued to grow this week, expanding to nearly 50,000 acres on Tuesday. Although the full extent of the damage is unknown, it has claimed over 20 homes, according to the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office. Over 500 people have been evacuated from their homes in the last 10 days.
Since starting in Bondurant, WY on September 15th, the fire has burnt through 49,805-acres and is currently just 25-percent contained. The cause is still unknown.
Officials announced yesterday that Highway 189/191 would be closed indefinitely for burnout operations. Firefighters planned to conduct a burnout operation from Rim Draw to Rim Station on Tuesday and were focused on maintaining the fire south of Highway 191.
Evacuations remained in effect this week, and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office has identified nine evacuation zones. Bondurant’s Jack Creek to Dell Creek and Twin Creek Basin north to Rock Creek east to Green River were all listed as areas that should be ready to evacuate. The Red Cross of Wyoming planned to open an evacuation center in Jackson, Wyoming, at the Montessori School of the Tetons, located at 1240B Huff Lane.
Lower Valley Energy was asked by local police to turn off power near the rim of the fire while burnout operations were underway which caused loss of power to approximately 200 citizens.
The fire was expected to continue spreading in the next 24 hours due to lower temperatures and gusty winds.
“Potential will be driven by favorable terrain and wind alignment, and location of the fire on the terrain,” an incident report on Tuesday said.
A public meeting is scheduled in Daniel, Wyoming for 6 pm on Wednesday.
