On Friday, the Horse Fire was reported on the Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Sublette County, Wyoming, approximately 10 miles west of Merna, 10 miles north of McDougal Gap, and 2 miles west of Prospect Peak. The lightning-caused fire, spanning 40 acres, is burning in heavy timber and slash, consisting of dead fallen branches and woody debris. To address the blaze, a Type 3 Incident Management Organization has been ordered to lead suppression efforts, with an expected arrival Saturday evening.
A Type 3 Incident Management Organization, comprising 10-20 trained personnel from multiple agencies, is equipped to manage moderately complex incidents requiring more resources than local forest capabilities. The fire is currently staffed with a Type 3 helicopter, five smokejumpers, three fire engines, and three crews, who will continue working through the night. Additionally, two Type 1 helicopters, each capable of carrying 700 gallons of water, have been requested to bolster suppression efforts.
Smoke from the fire is visible in the McDougal Gap and Merna areas, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest advises visitors not to report it. No closures are in place, but caution is urged due to smoke and moving firefighting equipment along roads. The forest’s fire danger rating remains “low,” indicating that while fuels like dry grasses and wood are less likely to ignite from small sparks, intense heat sources like lightning can still spark fires.
For updates, visit the Horse Fire InciWeb page at inciweb.wildfire.gov/wybtf-horse-fire or follow the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Facebook and X. The response reflects the forest’s commitment to public and firefighter safety while leveraging interagency resources to protect the 3.4 million-acre forest, a key part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
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