Both fires reportedly began due to lightning strikes.
The Elk Fire and Pack Trail Fire continue to burn in Wyoming’s Bighorn and Bridger-Teton National Forests. The Elk Fire is the worse of the two with over 800 fighters battling it. Wind gusts have been up to 20 mph. It has burned more than 80,000 acres.
Incident Commander Cheesbrough stated about the Elk Fire on Friday, “Another slight decrease in containment—from 15 percent to 14 percent—is due to an increase in overall acreage. Firefighters are making progress, however, as they work on all sides of the fire perimeter.”
The Pack Trail Fire has burned over 60,000 acres and has been blazing since mid-September. 500 firefighters were working to increase containment beyond the 60 percent on Friday.
The U.S. Forest Service stated, “Due to near–red flag conditions, there will be significant fire behavior… Crews continue to address hotspots and monitor the fire.” The service warned, “Drivers on US-26 may experience periods of smoke today due to high winds. Please use caution while driving, use headlights, and expect to encounter fire vehicles along the road.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For federal, state, and local officials as they seek to protect residents, property, and industry from the wildfires.
- For safety for the 1,000 firefighters as they work to contain the blazes.
- For residents and business owners as they seek to prevent loss of homes, cattle, and structures
Sources: U.S. Forest Service, Greek Reporter
