Small Fire in Cloud Peak Wilderness

A wildfire in the Bighorn National Forest isn’t expected to spread very far.
Bighorn National Forest firefighters responded to the 1/8th acre fire in the Cloud Peak Wilderness on Friday, August 24th. The fire, which was likely caused by lightning, was located ¼ mile east of Granite Lake in the Paint Rock Creek drainage. As of yesterday, the fire had burned almost all the available fuels in the area, was smoldering and was surrounded by rock. It is adjacent to a hiking trail.
Officials say no fire line was constructed due to the wilderness values, which emphasize natural conditions and ecological processes. It is not anticipated that this fire will grow any larger, however, wilderness managers urge backcountry travelers to use caution in the area for any burned trees that could fall, or any escalating fire behavior.
No trails are closed at this time, and managers will continue to monitor the fire.