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Air quality improving in areas affected by Pack Trail Fire; suppression efforts ongoing on all sides

Pack Trail Fire suppression efforts on Oct. 22, 2024 (Bridger-Teton National Forest Facebook)

DUBOIS, Wyo. — The Pack Trail Fire continues to slowly grow in the mountains of western Wyoming as fire suppression crews mount a full-scale attack on the burn perimeter. Despite the minimal progress — a 2% increase in confinement since yesterday — air quality is actually improving in the surrounding communities.

The Pack Trail Fire has officially consumed 89,627 acres of land as of Oct. 22, according to the Bridger-Teton National Forest’s most recent Facebook update. The fire is now 64% contained thanks to the efforts of the 563-person crew.

Pack Trail Fire activity map for Oct. 22, 2024 (Bridger-Teton National Forest Facebook)

That crew, split up across every flank of the fire’s edge, is employing a series of strategies to limit fire growth and protect vulnerable structures. To the north, natural terrain is being considered by crews doing fire suppression repair near Two Oceans Meadow. Moving east, crews near Fish Lake are doing the same as well as mopping up vulnerable hot spots.

On the fire’s southern edge, which has for a while been limited to the area near Buffalo Meadows, crews are preparing for a strategic firing operation similar to and expanding on security work started yesterday. Finally, to the west and north of Buffalo Meadows, a back-firing operation is in the works, which should hopefully limit the potential for hot spots to lose control.

The Very High Fire Danger previously established by Teton Interagency Fire Managers remains in place for all nearby areas, including the forest itself and the other nearby parks and forests.

Personal fires should be constantly monitored, and a way to extinguish an uncontrolled flame should always be available when recreationally lighting a fire. This is especially pertinent as weather conditions are expected to warm and dry out the area.

While much hasn’t changed as a result of recent precipitation, smoke production has. According to another update from the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the areas of Yellowstone, Moran, Pinedale and Lander are going to experience good air quality all day. Conversely, smoke will settle into some mountain valleys overnight and persist for a while. See the image below from the forest’s Facebook page for more in-depth air quality information.

Current air quality for areas surrounding the Pack Trail Fire issued by the Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program (Bridger-Teton National Forest Facebook)

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