Fire Danger Still Very High

The recent storms through the area brought some welcome, although all to temporary moisture to the Teton Interagency Fire area, but not enough to douse the fire danger. Teton Interagency Fires point out that once warmer, drier weather moves back in later in the week, the fire danger will be just as high as it was.  Then too, along with the rain came lightning and new fire starts in both Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.  Teton Interagency Fire crews responded yesterday to another start on the Big Piney Ranger District called the Horse Creek Fire. The ¼-acre fire started from lightning that passed over the area Monday.  Lightning fires can often go undetected, smoldering in a tree or in duff until heated by sun or fanned by wind. Fire crews will be on the lookout for smokes from lightning “sleeper” fires as conditions dry.  At this time the fire danger is still classified as “Very High.”  Meanwhile: recent rainfall received over most of Yellowstone National Park has increased fuel moistures to the point that the prohibition on open campfires there has been lifted; although they remain in place in Grand Teton National Park, Bridger Teton National Forest and Teton County.