Progress Noted On Fontenelle Fire
Increased cloud cover and relative humidity as well as about two hours of wetting rain yesterday helped firefighters on the 57-thousand-324 acre Fontenelle fire west of Big Piney make significant headway on establishing firelines around its perimeter. Fire Information Officer Jason Curry says additionally,crews were able to successfully defend a cabin in the Sacajawea Campground as fire moved through the area. Meanwhile, he says gas wells and a helium plant under construction that had been shut down as the fire moved toward them last week are now being put back on line. Getting the wells back into operation is good news for the local economy of Big Piney as Governor Mead says they collectively lose approximately $8-million dollars every day they are shut down. Today’s activities involve establishing more line around the fire.
Meanwhile, the Bear Cub fire north of Togwotee Pass reportedly now has grown to 6,141 acres in continued active growth yesterday. The vicinity of the fire has been closed to public access in the interest of safety. Currently, there are 56 people working the fire which remains deep in the Teton Wilderness Area.
