Snake Fire Now Estimated at 2,000 Acres, Threatening Buildings in Southeastern Wyoming
Fire managers said late Sunday the Snake Fire burning in southern Carbon County grew to roughly 10 times the size reported earlier in the day.
The fire, burning just two miles north of the Wyoming/Colorado state line, is now roughly estimated at 2,000 acres in size and is threatening some ranch structures as well as private and state land on the Medicine Bow National Forest, according to the latest update.
Extreme fire growth Sunday resulting from single-digit humidity and wind gusts of 40 mph or more saw flames spread to the east and northeast of the fire's origin, with the blaze now nearing Huston Park Wilderness.
The fire started about five miles southeast of Battle Creek Campground in the Roaring Fork Little Snake River drainage within the Sierra Madre Range.
A Type III incident management team was set to take over Monday.
The fire was first reported at 30 acres in size around 4 p.m. Saturday and grew to roughly 200 acres by Sunday afternoon. Hunters and campers in the area were evacuated as U.S. Forest Service and Carbon County fire engines responded.
Beaver Creek Fire air attack was the first resource on site. Sunday saw three engines, a Type II hand crew and three helicopters assigned to the blaze, for a total of 50 people.
The public is not allowed to enter the area, pending an official closure order.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.