Shoshone National Forest Fights Fire 4 Miles SW of Wapiti

Another wildfire has sparked in Shoshone National Forest, prompting an immediate aerial response to the area not far from Wapiti and the North Fork Highway.

Officials at Shoshone National Forest announced that a new wildfire was detected on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 26. Its cause is currently unknown and under investigation.

The “Clocktower incident” is in the North Fork Shoshone River drainage, specifically near Clocktower Creek. This places the fire southwest of Wapiti and nearly four miles south of the North Fork Highway.

As of Monday, Sept. 27, the new fire is two acres in size, and an intense response is already underway – thanks to the two other wildfires in northwest Wyoming.

Shoshone National Forest is supporting on-the-ground firefighters with personnel transport and fighting the fire with aerial water drops. Those drops are being carried out by two helicopters used to quelch the Crater Ridge Fire in Bighorn National Forest and the Sand Creek Fire in the southern part of Shoshone National Forest.

Both the Crater Ridge and Sand Creek Fires are becoming less threatening as the days go on.

Fire activity in the Crater Ridge Fire is described as active but not aggressive, with the fire’s growth stopped at 7,337 acres for nearly a week. As of Monday, the fire stands at 70% contained.

Meanwhile, the Sand Creek Fire is 75% contained at 929 acres. There has been no active growth for several days, and the last daily update was last Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Shoshone National Forest is getting the “Clocktower incident” under control, but firefighters aren’t “out of the woods” yet for any of northwest Wyoming’s wildfires.

“With continued warm and dry conditions, forest visitors should remain extra cautious with campfires and other potential ignition sources,” says Jennifer Omans, Customer Service Representative with Shoshone National Forest.

The National Weather Service in Riverton issued a Red Flag Warning for the entire Bighorn Basin on Tuesday, Sept. 28. It will be in effect from noon to 6 p.m. MDT Tuesday

Stage One Fire Restrictions in Shoshone National Forest were lifted earlier in September. Under such conditions, it’s essential anyone recreating in Shoshone National Forest do so responsibly to avoid starting or fanning any flames.