Sandy Fire dwindles

Closed area is reduced

Joy Ufford, jufford@pinedaleroundup.com
Posted 7/7/22

No new growth reported on Sandy Fire.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Sandy Fire dwindles

Closed area is reduced

Posted

BONDURANT – The Sandy Fire near Cliff Creek, first reported on June 28 after a lightning storm swept through the Hoback Basin, remained at 105 acres Thursday with no growth “or new heat” for several days.

With that news, the Bridger-Teton National Forest reduced the size of its trail and road closure to an oval extending east of the fire perimeter to encompass the Snag Creek drainage from Cliff Creek to Monument Ridge.

The fire is 90-percent contained with a Type I hotshot crew and a local helicopter keeping an eye on it, officials said. Thursday, announced a reduced closure area around the Sandy Marshall Creek location between Cliff Creek and Monument Ridge

When it started, Sublette County Unified Fire and BTNF firefighters responded quickly and into early this week, visiting engines, hotshots, hand crews and helicopters set up base camps at the Hoback Guard Station and other BTNF property.

Tuesday, SCUF Chief Shad Cooper told Sublette County commissioners that the Sandy Fire was being relegated back to local control. Wyoming Forestry Division’s Kim Hemenway added that the night before, an infrared flight showed no hot spots and the crews’ hand-dug line around the Sandy Fire perimeter was complete.

BTNF Pinedale District Ranger Ivan Geroy said SCUF was “great” and helped with a lightning strike in the Upper Green and a small grass fire near Fremont Lake. The county’s new

radio system worked well among them, he added.

“That was part of the goal in the first place,” said commission chair Joel Bousman.