Badger Creek Fire Pushes Northeast, WYO 230 Closed, Pre-Evacuation Orders Issued [UPDATE]
UPDATE: (12:40 p.m.) The Badger Creek Fire is now estimated at 20,800 acres and is 80 percent contained, reflecting an approximate 400 acre increase on the northwest corner of the fire area.
Original Story:
WYO 230 from Woods Landing to the Colorado state line will close at 10 a.m. Friday, June 29 due to wildfire activity associated with the Badger Creek Fire, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
On Thursday afternoon, WYO 230 was temporarily closed and reopened Thursday evening after fire activity decreased.
The road will stay closed until it is safe to reopen.
According to The Medicine Bow National Forest Laramie Ranger District, strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity helped push the fire past previous containment lines in the northeast corner. Additional resources were ordered to assist with operations and helicopters, heavy tankers, bulldozers, engines and hand crews worked to actively suppress the fire on Thursday.
New acres were burned Thursday, however aerial mapping scheduled for Friday will provide an accurate assessment of how much the fire grew.
Albany County Emergency Management has issued pre-evacuation notices for home owners along Highway 10, north of New Jelm to Woods Landing, then along Highway 230 from Woods Landing to the Fox Creek Road turnoff, as well as along Fox Creek Road to Forest Road 311A. This applies to homes along both sides of the highways and county road, up to the Forest boundary. Pre-evacuation means home owners should be aware of the emergency situation and be prepared to leave quickly if told to do so by emergency officials.
Critical fire weather conditions are expected for Friday. Red Flag winds will persist from the southwest at 20 mph, gusting higher. Temperatures will be near 80 with low humidity.
Smoke from the Badger Creek Fire will be visible in Albany County for an extended period of time.
Updates on the fire can be found on InciWeb and the Badger Creek Fire Facebook page.