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Wet snow ends stage 1 fire restrictions, causes issues with trees

Inches of wet snow on Tuesday caused issues with trees around Gillette. (City of Gillette)

GILLETTE, Wyo. — Inches of wet snow blanketing northeastern Wyoming have brought enough moisture to the area that stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted. They have also caused an issue with downing tree branches.

The Campbell County Fire Department announced the end of stage 1 fire restrictions this morning. The restrictions have been in place since July 5 as drought conditions worsened in Campbell and surrounding counties. As of this morning, there was enough moisture to reduce fire risk, the fire department reported.

That moisture came in the form of wet snow, which Gillette saw 5 inches of on Tuesday. The snow laid heavy on trees, breaking branches and causing other issues. Gillette’s city arborist and the city’s Public Works Department offered the following tips:

  • When possible, avoid parking vehicles, walking or standing under large trees, especially those that still have leaves or limbs that are drooping due to the weight.
  • If a limb has fallen and any portion of it is in contact with an overhead line or other utility, do not touch any part of the branch. Call City Utilities at 307-686-5262. Please have the location available when you call.
  • City crews and the Forestry Division are busy clearing roads and other public ways of snow and branches. Their priority is public safety, not private trees or property. To report branches in roadways, please call Public Works at 307-686-5320.
  • If branches or limbs fall off your tree, you can haul them to the Yard Waste Facility, located at the Wastewater Treatment Facility on Garner Lake Road. It’s open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • After hours, contact the Gillette Police Department at 307-686-5155.

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