NEW PHOTOS: Togwotee Pass Has Reopened

Yesterday I posted a couple of pictures from the Wyoming Department Of Transportation (WYDOT) maps showing us what's going on across our state, including road conditions, closures, and even webcam views.

Visit this link to see the map of road conditions.

A video update on this fire from the U.S. Forest Service 

These are WYDOT webcam pictures of Togwotee Pass taken at 3:47 am.

This fire stands out at night in these pictures.

Togwotee Pass has been closed all week, due to smoke and fire.

The pass should be open to some traffic Friday morning if all goes well.

There will be a pilot car system in place through the area most hazardous area.

Many of the fires across the highway were set intentionally to burn up any fuel before the Fish Creek Fire got to it.

A few of those "backfires" got out of control.

Many of those pines were killed by beetles several years ago, making this one tough fire to put out.

Much-needed rain passed over the area between Wednesday and Thursday. But that rain also brought lighting, which tried to start more fires.

Embers from this fire have blown up to a mile away causing firefighters to rush around trying to find and put out anything and everything new.

Here is a video update on this fire from the U.S. Forest Service

This is not just a grass fire, like what is happening in eastern Wyoming.

It's big timber.

That's why even a snow event from last week was not able to show it very much.

The fire, called the Fish Creek Fire, is now stronger than ever.

Besides what is right at the edge of the road, below, look at the top right and you'll see something hot off in the distance.

Some of the most shocking photos are being posted online by those who have been able to travel into the area.

That would mostly be firefighters.

Like this photo, posted on Facebook.

Look at all of that glowing ash lifting high into the air.

That's what firefighters are most afraid of.

Togwotee Pass is still closed, as of Wednesday morning 09/04/24.

Smoke and fire have caused some evacuations in the area.

The question should be asked: Why is there still so much smoke and fire after the area received a good amount of snow last week?

High winds have not helped.

But it's more a matter of what is burning.

The Togwotee Pass area is nothing like the planes of eastern Wyoming.

It's a mountainous area filled with tall pine trees.

The video below starts with a pleasant stream flowing, then shows how shocking the fire is, using time-lapse. 

Some years ago, large sections of those pines were killed off by pine beetles.

The snow that blanketed the area last week provided some help to firefighters.

But that was never going to be enough to put out what was burning.

Given just a little more time and some of that annoying wind the Fish Creek Fire was up to strength again, closing the pass for longer than it was closed the first time.

FISH CREEK INCIDENT

Type: WF - Wildfire
Area Acres Burned: 15,506
Percent Contained: 54%
Discovered: 8/16/2024 1:52 PM
Current as of 9/3/2024 6:01 PM

The WYDOT map below shows that Togwotee Pass is still closed

A little more help came Tuesday night into Wednesday morning when a cool front moved into the area, bringing some much-needed rain.

Much like the snow that fell last week, this will not be enough to put out the fires.

But firefighters need all the help they can get and a good soaking from a passing storm or two is more than welcome.

That rain will even scrub some of the smoke out of the air, providing some temporary breathing relief for those who live in the area.

For those fighting to save what they can in North Eastern Wyoming's latest fires, and for those who are worried about friends and family in the area, information is everything.

Everyone wants and needs to know the latest.

Here are some of the places news reporters go to find out what is going on, and you can look at these sites as well, any time you need an update.

Let's start with a fire map.

The WSFT Interactive Fire Map is at this link. 

The more you zoom in, the more information you'll get.

Try clicking on everything you see and you'll get more information.

At the same time, you'll want to know where that smoke is going.

Try this smoke and fire map, at this link.

Like the other map, the more you move around and click on things the more information you get.

You'll see layers of smoke and where it's coming from.

This gives you a better idea of the big picture as you zoom in and out.

You'll want to know where that smoke and fire is going, and where it is forecasted to go.

For that one of my favorite websites is WINDY. You might want to download the Windy App for use on your mobile device.

It's a moving map that shows you how the wind is moving.

With WINDY you can zoom way in and way out to see how the wind is moving.

Use the time bar at the bottom to see what the forecasted winds are.

Use the altitude option to look at winds aloft and on the ground.

Try the options that allow you to see temperature, humidity, rain, and clouds.

Are the roads open?

Try WYDOT's website for visual and written information on roads.

You can also zoom in on street and highway cameras to see what's happening.

Search your social media, like Facebook to see what WYDOT is posting as well as your local BLM posts and fire departments.

They all have Facebook pages and are posting information there.

Your local government (city & county) websites are also posting emergency information along with city and county police departments.