Wildfire Growth Stalls After Winter Storm, But Warmer Weather Looms
A winter storm brought significant rain and snow to Wyoming’s two largest wildfires, temporarily halting their rapid growth, cowboystatedaily reports.
The Pack Trail and Elk fires, burning in northern Wyoming, saw almost no expansion over the weekend. However, with warmer and drier weather expected, the reprieve may be short-lived.
The Elk Fire, which had grown to over 96,000 acres before the storm, remains contained at that size. The cold front slowed the fire’s progression and allowed firefighting crews to increase containment from 28% to 48%. On Saturday, it only expanded by 18 acres.
Similarly, the Pack Trail Fire in the Bridger-Teton National Forest grew just 29 acres over the same period. Firefighters reported success in controlling much of the blaze, especially on its northern boundary, although hot spots remain in the southwest.
Despite this progress, officials warn that the fires could still flare up as temperatures rise. The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, overseeing the Elk Fire, expects warmer, drier conditions in the coming days. While no significant growth is anticipated, firefighters are focusing on monitoring hot spots and completing containment lines.
The storm left the terrain muddy and difficult for crews to access in some areas, but the overall cooler weather has helped reduce the immediate threat. However, with fire still burning in some areas and heavy fuels continuing to smolder, both fires remain a priority for firefighters.
