Summary of Tuesday's Operations
Much of yesterday was spent securing hot spots near control lines. Additional containment in the southeast corner of the fire was added because of an established, secure dozer line. Because the dozer line was further out from the prior perimeter, today’s acreage shows a slight increase from the previous day.

Today’s Operations
Firefighters will put more emphasis on pulling out sprinklers, foldable water tanks, hoses, and other equipment that was used for structure protection. The incident management team is continuing to make appropriate adjustments to the number of crews and equipment on scene. Some of the crews departing from the Pedro Mountain Fire are being reassigned to other fires throughout the west, including the Fishhawk fire west of Cody, Wyoming.

Closures / Public Safety for Wednesday, September 4
After carefully evaluating current fire activity and the remaining work to be done on the fire, local authorities and cooperating agencies have worked with the incident management team and determined the evacuations and road closures put in place for the Pedro Mountain fire will be lifted today, September 4, at 2:00 p.m. This includes Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, Cardwell Ranch, Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road), and all roads west of the highway to Pathfinder Reservoir.

Though the reopening of the roads applies to all members of the public, any unnecessary travel into the fire area should be limited due to firefighters continuing patrol work, crews removing sprinklers and hoses, and heavy machinery working in the area.

Re-entry precautions are available, detailing travel considerations, hazards, and restrictions. The information can be found below this article.

Note: The changes to the total number of structures lost in the fire reflect a change in the way the structures were reported. The original listing of four structures reflected burned structures at four properties. However, there was more than one building on some of the properties; the multiple buildings per site are now being counted individually.

After carefully evaluating current fire activity and the remaining work to be done on the fire, local authorities and cooperating agencies have worked with the incident management team and determined the evacuations and road closures put in place for the Pedro Mountain fire will be lifted today, September 4, at 2:00 p.m. This includes Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, Cardwell Ranch, Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road), and all roads west of the highway to Pathfinder Reservoir.

Though the reopening of the roads applies to all members of the public, any unnecessary travel into the fire area should be limited due to firefighters continuing patrol work, crews removing sprinklers and hoses, and heavy machinery working in the area.

Rentry precautions are available below, detailing travel considerations, hazards, and restrictions.

After carefully evaluating current fire activity and the remaining work to be done on the fire, local authorities and cooperating agencies have worked with the incident management team and determined the evacuations and road closures put in place for the Pedro Mountain fire will be lifted today, September 4, at 2:00 p.m. This includes Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, Cardwell Ranch, Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road), and all roads west of the highway to Pathfinder Reservoir.

Though the reopening of the roads applies to all members of the public, any unnecessary travel into the fire area should be limited due to firefighters continuing patrol work, crews removing sprinklers and hoses, and heavy machinery working in the area.

Re-entry precautions are available, below, detailing travel considerations, hazards, and restrictions.

Summary of Monday's Operations
Red flag warnings have been in effect for much of the past week, but yesterday hit extreme levels when humidity bottomed out at 6%, temperatures hit the mid 90s, and gusty winds prevailed for most of the day. The established control lines on the fire were tested by this critical fire weather, but all areas held, and the incident management team was able to declare an increase in the fire’s containment percentage — a notable success under such harsh conditions.

Two crews were sent in to assess an area of uncontrolled line in the northeast corner near Rocky Gap. They determined no further actions, such as burnout operations or dozer work, is currently necessary. However, the section will continue to be patrolled.

Today’s Operations
The fire is still slowly burning through unconsumed pockets of vegetation and continuing to back down drainages. All fire activity is occurring within established containment lines.

Operations today will center on continuing structure protection, addressing any areas in the interior of the fire still holding heat, and working to establish more containment. The incident management team is making appropriate adjustments to the number of crews and equipment on scene, making some resources available to other fires throughout the region while still retaining enough personnel to continue the successes on this fire thus far.

Closures / Public Safety for Tuesday, September 3
Evacuations are still in place for the following areas: Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, and Cardwell Ranch. Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed from the intersection of Fremont Canyon) south to Leo/Sage Creek. The closure includes all roads west of the above location to Pathfinder Reservoir.

The incident management team understands the need and interest by residents to return to the area affected by the fire. The team is working with local authorities and cooperators to finalize a plan for allowing residents access to their homes and properties in a timely manner as soon as the area is safe from fire activity, further fire spread, suppression repair work, and other impacts.

One of the primary tactics used this week by the Wyoming Incident Management Team 2 working on the Pedro Mountain Fire has been using fire crews to implement burnout operations. Each day, the team’s fire update has made references to this effort. The term “backburning,” or “fighting fire with fire” can often sound intimidating. It is, however, a basic concept and oftentimes one of the safest ways to effectively stop a fire’s progression.

Fire managers choose between a variety of strategies when suppressing wildfires. While managing fires can be complicated and challenging, the basic principles of fire are relatively simple. Fire needs three elements to ignite and continue to burn: oxygen, heat, and fuel. To stop a fire’s spread, one of the three elements has to be removed to break the fire triangle. Taking away the third ingredient, fuel, is the method often employed by firefighters.

While many people associate the word “fuel” with common substances like gasoline, diesel or propane, firefighters use the term to refer to any kind of combustible material. This includes light, quick-to-burn vegetation like grasses and shrubs to heavy timber in a forested area. Simply put, when a moving fire runs out of fuel — just like a vehicle driving down the highway — it slows down and can stop both the fire’s progression and spread. Vegetation can be mowed, scraped to bare mineral soil by a hand tool or dozer, or strategically burned if conditions allow. The latter, burning, can quickly treat a larger area in front of an approaching fire and create a sturdy, fuel-free barrier.

Before any burning is implemented, fire managers assess the landscape, looking for natural barriers that can serve as part of a control line. This might include water features, rocky slopes, large areas of bare soil like a plowed field, or any other surface that would make it difficult to carry fire. Once a containment line path has been identified, firefighters construct a fire line with heavy equipment, hand tools, or even a heavy application of water. However, a fire may be so fast-moving or is burning so hot that the control lines or natural features may need to be a fair distance from the fire.

Firefighters consider both weather and fire conditions to make decisions on when burning out along a containment line can happen. Unlike an unplanned wildfire, firefighters are able to choose the weather conditions under which to work during a burnout. The firing, or burning, may even take place at night when temperatures are cooler. If weather and fire behavior are too extreme, no containment line of any size may be adequate to use a burnout strategy as a suppression tactic.

Firefighters use a variety of tools and methods to apply fire to the ground in order to remove fuels. Most commonly, firefighters carry drip torches, which are handheld canisters that drip flaming liquid fuel on the materials to be burned. A crew strategically walks along the containment line, burning from the line further into the adjacent fuels. If fire needs to be applied further into the unburned area or into areas with difficult walking terrain, firefighters can use flare pistols or even small incendiary devices dropped from a helicopter.

Regardless of the method, the fire is applied slowly and strategically in order to the maximize benefits of the indirect firefighting approach. After the operation is complete, firefighters monitor the area, looking for areas that are still holding heat and could threaten to jump over the containment line.

Fire is dynamic force that requires flexibility and adaptability on the part of those managing it. By having a variety of suppression tactics, firefighters can choose the safest and most effective way to put in and bolster a control line and further prevent a blaze from escaping the established boundaries.

Summary of Sunday's Operations
The acreage increase shown for today is primarily due to successful ignition operations along the south and east sides of the fire. Crews also took out a large pocket of unburned fuel in the interior of the fire near Pedro Peak that could later spread towards nearby homes. The northern and western flanks were fairly quiet with isolated torching and smoldering.

Today’s Operations
Red flag conditions exist not only here but in other areas throughout the region. Several new fire starts were reported regionally on Sunday; some of the resources from this incident will be released to these other new fires that have more immediate support needs. However, there is still much work to be done on the Pedro Mountain Fire.

Crews will continue patrolling near homes in several sections as well as mopping up and looking for areas still holding heat, including near Mountain Shadows and the Chimneys. Fire managers are devising the best plan to address an area of uncontrolled line in the northeast corner near Rocky Gap, where infrared flights show pockets of heat with the potential to spread to uncontrolled fire line. Addressing these hot spots will limit significant fire growth and close up the containment line.

The evacuations and closures listed below remain in effect because of efforts to stop the fire from spreading. With uncontrolled lines, the fire has potential to move to the east and south, putting fire and smoke closer to County Road 291. With well over 400 personnel still assigned to the fire, large numbers of crews and apparatus need to move unimpeded throughout the fire zone. The incident management team understands the public’s interest in returning to the area and will begin discussing plans with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to allow residents access to their homes and properties in a timely manner as soon as the area is safe from further fire spread and other impacts.

Closures / Public Safety for Monday, September 2
Evacuations are still in place for the following areas: Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, and Cardwell Ranch. Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed from the intersection of Fremont Canyon) south to Leo/Sage Creek until further notice The closure includes all roads west of the above location to Pathfinder Reservoir.

Summary of Saturday's Operations
Four hotshot crews, assisted by initial attack crews, completed a large and successful burn operation throughout the southern half of the fire on Saturday. The control line stretched for several miles, including Gooseberry Canyon and areas just west of Carbon County Road 291. This reduced the amount of vegetation in the fire’s path and is a key strategy in the effort to protect homes and property.

Today’s Operations
While some crews will continue working in the area of yesterday’s successful efforts in the south, other firefighters and engines will be rerouted to the northeast corner near Rocky Gap, where infrared flights show pockets of heat with the potential to spread to uncontrolled fire line. Fire prediction tools used by the incident management team show the fire has the most potential to spread to the east/northeast in the next 24 hours, based on weather and topography. Addressing these hot spots will limit significant fire growth and assist in closing up the containment line.

Crews are working under red flag warning conditions again today, with temperatures in the 90s, low humidity, and strong winds.

The evacuations and closures listed below remain in effect because firefighters are still engaged in efforts to stop the fire from spreading. With uncontrolled lines, the fire has potential to move to the east and south, putting fire and smoke closer to County Road 291. With well over 400 personnel on the fire, large numbers of crews and apparatus need to move unimpeded throughout the fire zone. The incident management team understands the public’s interest in returning to the area and will begin discussing plans with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to allow residents access to their homes and properties in a timely manner as soon as the area is safe from further fire spread and other impacts.

Closures / Public Safety for Sunday, September 1
Evacuations are still in place for the following areas: Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, and Cardwell Ranch.

Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed from the intersection of Natrona County 408 (also known as Fremont Canyon) south to Leo/Sage Creek until further notice due to fire operations and public safety. The closure includes all roads west of the above location to Pathfinder Reservoir.

Summary of Friday's Operations
As predicted, several storm cells moved through the fire area in the afternoon. Though the storm system did briefly drop some rain, it also brought strong, erratic winds. This limited plans for firing operations to improve defensible space around homes and tie in with dozer lines put in during the previous day. Engine and hotshot crews were supported by a variety of aerial resources dropping water.

Today’s Operations
Resources will be moved from less active areas of the fire to the more challenging sections on the southern end, including Heaths Peak, the Chimney, and Mountain Shadows.

Helicopters, air tankers, and water scoopers will again be used to drop water to slow the fire’s progression. This will give firefighters more opportunities to take protective measures around homes and structures. If weather allows, firefighters will do burnout operations from both the ground and through aerial ignitions.

Because of the strategic relocation of resources and resulting heavy fire traffic on both primary and secondary roads, the closures listed below will remain in effect for both firefighter and public safety as well as the possibility of fire and smoke impacting the road.

Closures / Public Safety Information for Saturday, August 31
Evacuations are still in place for the following areas: Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, and Cardwell Ranch.

Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed from the intersection of Natrona County 408 (also known as Fremont Canyon) south to Leo/Sage Creek until further notice due to fire operations and public safety. The closure includes all roads west of the above location to Pathfinder Reservoir.

For travelers southbound from Wyoming Highway 220: Natrona County 407/Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed 3 miles south of Alcova at the junction of Natrona County 408/Fremont Canyon Road due to fire activity. The closure extends south to Leo/Sage Creek and includes all roads west to Pathfinder Reservoir. Access into Fremont Canyon using County Road 408 is still allowed.

For travelers northbound on Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road: Miracle Mile is still accessible from the south. The closure begins in the area near Leo/Sage Creek.

Additional Pedro Mountain Fire Information
Inciweb link for Pedro Mountain Fire, including news, maps and photos: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ incident/6549

Facebook: Bureau of Land Management - Wyoming
Twitter: @BLMWYOMING
Carbon County Sheriff’s Office: (307) 324-2776
Media Inquiries: (307) 699-4747
Red Cross Assistance: (307) 321-1514

Closures/Public Safety Information for Friday, August 30
Evacuations are still in place for the following areas: Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, and Cardwell Ranch. Red Cross assistance is available for anyone needing services.

Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed from the intersection of Natrona County 408 (also known as Fremont Canyon) south to Leo/Sage Creek until further notice due to fire operations and public safety. The closure includes all roads west of the above location to Pathfinder Reservoir.

For travelers southbound from Wyoming Highway 220: Natrona County 407/ Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed 3 miles south of Alcova at the junction of Natrona County 408/Fremont Canyon Road due to fire activity. The closure extends south to Leo/Sage Creek and includes all roads west to Pathfinder Reservoir. Access into Fremont Canyon using County Road 408 is still allowed.

For travelers northbound on Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road: Miracle Mile is still accessible from the south. The closure begins in the area near Leo/Sage Creek.

The fire map attached below (PDF) for Friday, August 30 shows the stretch of road and portion of the lake closed due to fire operations.

Summary of Thursday's Operations
Crews made significant use of helicopters and water scooping planes to cool active areas of the fire yesterday. Much of the aerial support centered on actively burning areas in the south section of the fire. On the ground, hot shot teams and dozer operators made progress securing fire line in anticipation of the fire’s movement to the east. Near structures, firefighters continued setting up sprinkler systems and placed temporary storage tanks near homes to hold additional water.

Today's Operations
Firefighters will put most resources into working on the south and southeast portion of the fire where it was very active yesterday and throughout the evening. Ground crews will be heavily supported with a variety of aerial resources, including helicopters, single engine air tankers, and water scoopers. Burnout operations may include both aerial and ground ignitions to remove vegetation ahead of the fire and attempt to limit the fire’s movement to the east. Protecting structures at risk will be a high priority in today’s operations.

Closures/Public Safety Information for Friday, August 30
Evacuations are still in place for the following areas: Pedro Mountain Estates, Pedro Mountain Ranch Road, and Cardwell Ranch. Red Cross assistance is available for anyone needing services.

Natrona County Road 407 / Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed from the intersection of Natrona County 408 (also known as Fremont Canyon) south to Leo/Sage Creek until further notice due to fire operations and public safety. The closure includes all roads west of the above location to Pathfinder Reservoir.

For travelers southbound from Wyoming Highway 220: Natrona County 407/ Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road) is closed 3 miles south of Alcova at the junction of Natrona County 408/Fremont Canyon Road due to fire activity. The closure extends south to Leo/Sage Creek and includes all roads west to Pathfinder Reservoir. Access into Fremont Canyon using County Road 408 is still allowed.

For travelers northbound on Carbon County 291 (also known as Kortes Road: Miracle Mile is still accessible from the south. The closure begins in the area near Leo/Sage Creek.

Additional Pedro Mountain Fire Information
Inciweb link for Pedro Mountain Fire, including news, maps and photos: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ incident/6549
Facebook: Bureau of Land Management - Wyoming
Twitter: @BLMWYOMING
Carbon County Sheriff’s Office: (307) 324-2776
Media Inquiries: (307) 699-4747
Red Cross Assistance: (307) 321-1514