The Clearwater Fire continues to consume acres of wildland south to southwest of the Clearwater campgrounds, where it started by a lightning strike on July 19th.
According to Incident Commander Jon Warder, the fire, starting in the Elk Fork Drainage, is still in “very steep and remote terrain that makes direct attack on the fire very difficult while ensuring firefighter safety.”
Over the weekend, the fire grew due to winds from the east, along with low humidity, which pushed the fire “a few hundred acres up a drainage near the Highway 14 Corridor,” according to Warder.
In response, crews proactively placed sprinklers around the UXU Ranch in case the fire grows into the beginning of this week. Still, no evacuations are necessary and containment efforts in the Elk Fork drainage have paid off as officials say the Clearwater fire is now at 7% containment.
The Highway Corridor remains very busy and public safety is of highest concern, so officials are asking people who are driving out Highway 14/16/20 to the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park to watch out for fire and emergency vehicles.
Closures still include:
Elk Fork Campground is closed indefinitely. Wapiti Campground, and Clearwater Campground are closed until fire conditions allow otherwise.
These closures provide public safety and increased access for fire resources, say officials.
A road and trail closure are in effect at NFS Road #424, Elk Fork Road and NFS Trail # 760, Elk Fork Trail. The purpose of this Order is to protect human health and safety from the Clearwater fire. More information can be found here.
Weather is still a factor in anticipating fire behavior, as the Clearwater Fire is burning through timber, brush, and thick, dead and downed fuels on steep slopes. While temperatures are going to be lower and relative humidity is forecasted to be higher this week, officials are concerned about gustier winds and thunderstorm outflow winds that could cause the fire to pick up speed and intensity as it continues to burn through the Shoshone National Forest. But there is hopeful news about the weather as there is a chance of monsoon moisture in the upcoming week.
Risk to responders and public safety remain the highest priority for the incident management team. The Clearwater fire has not been the only fire contributing to the smoke in the air. Smoke from fires in Canada as well as Idaho and the Northwest have been a steady influence across the area for many days. Use ‘AirNow’ to check current conditions and try to plan your outdoor activities when air quality is at a tolerable level, according to health officials. People with breathing problems like asthma and COPD are encouraged to stay indoors when air quality is poor.
The Shoshone National Forest has also implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions, due to the very dry conditions of fuels and the likely continued hot and dry weather.
