Fontenelle Fire 5% contained

The Fontenelle Fire is burning on the Bridger-Teton National Forest is 5 percent contained, responders announced Monday morning, and road closures are in effect.

The fire is 17 miles west of Big Piney, Wyo. It began June 24 and is burning in heavy, dead timber with occasional areas of grass and sage.

The following roads are closed: the top of Bare Pass at Red Castles, west to North Piney Meadows and Tri Basin Divide, south to Cheese Pass, Mount Isabel, and Red Park, east to the junction of LaBarge Creek Road and the forest boundary, and north to Bare Pass. The road closure on Middle Piney Road may move east depending on fire conditions. Further closures may be needed to ensure firefighter and public safety. The public is asked to be cautious when driving on the LaBarge Road between Highway 189 to the closure at the forest boundary as there may be large fire engines, fire traffic and impact from smoke.

The area is under a Red Flag warning until 9 p.m. Monday due to high winds and low relative humidity.

Firefighters saved summer homes in upper Middle Piney Creek. They also saved Sacajawea Campground.

Monday’s strategy for fighting the fire included using aerial support from the Big Piney-Marbleton airport and heavy tankers from Pocatello to contain the north-northeast fire boundary. Firefighters were to continue to construct and improve a fire line along the south-southwest portion of the blaze.

Two public meetings will be held Monday to inform the public about the current fire situation:

Big Piney Community Meeting
7:30 p.m.
LDS Church Gymnasium
2250 Piney Dr

Pinedale Community Meeting
5:00 p.m.
Pinedale Library, Lovatt Room
155 S. Tyler St.