Latest updates on regional wildfires; Hwy between Grand Teton and Yellowstone now open

Fire are still burning in the region, including the Tie Canyon and Berry Fire. The following list is the latest updates.

Fire managers on the Berry Fire burning in Grand Teton National Park said the highway between Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park is now open.

They said while the highway is open, there are still area and trail closures within Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and Bridger-Teton National Forest. Current closure maps are available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/4954/.

The Berry Fire has burned 13,177 acres.

The lightning caused fire was active Sunday, mostly on the northeast corner of the fire and on the southwest of the fire, along Jackson Lake.

The fire is being mostly allowed to burn as part of the goal to rejuvenate the ecosystem, they said.

Fire managers say the Tie Canyon fire burning near Victor did not grow on Monday. It remains at 44-percent contained and 1,014 acres.

They reported, “additional handcrews and engines arrived Monday to support water handling and line construction efforts. Crews on the southern flanks successfully “plumbed” water lines which firefighters can now use to extinguish hot spots. The art of connecting hoses, pumps and maintaining adequate pressure through mountainous terrain is referred to as plumbing a hoselay. These hoselays will reduce the need for aircraft support and speed containment efforts that will take place over the next several days.”
The Level 1 evacuation remains in effect, they said. They hope to lift the notice later this week.

Yellowstone National Park is reporting the Maple Fire is approximately 3.8 miles from West Yellowstone, 1.8 miles from Madison Junction and 3.7 miles from the Mount Holmes Lookout.

Sunday night the fire approached the (West Yellowstone to Madison) road in the area of the 7 Mile Bridge and is visible from the road.Traffic control may be implemented if heavy smoke is present on the road.

The Peterson Hollow Fire burning on the Idaho-Utah border east of Preston is 22% contained with total acreage at 1,202. The fire had no significant runs on Sunday, they said.

People visiting or living near Bear Lake could see smoke from the fire. Flames also were visible from Highway 89, they said. The highway remains open through Logan Canyon.

Click here for the latest on the Henrys Creek Fire.

Other Fires as reported by the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center:

Toponce Fire is now 100% contained. It burned 265-acres. It is located 16 miles east of Chubbuck.

The Carrot Fire is southeast of Coyote Meadows Trailhead in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. The 284-acre fire is being managed as a resource benefit. Fire managers are using masticator (equipment that can cut trees and brush) along the Jackpine-Pinochle Loop and South Jackpine roads to widen vegetation clearance along the road. It would help limit any spread of the fire toward the west and southwest should the fire unexpectedly head in that direction.

The Black Fire, 12 miles north of Swan Valley is approximately 280-acres in size and can be seen from Highway 26. Firefighters are working to widen vegetation clearance along the South Fork Road and along the South Fork Rim Trail.

The Big Elk Fire, north of Palisades Reservior and is approximately 68-acres and has not shown any growth in the past few days. Firefighters are continuing to monitor.

The Lanes Creek Fire is 150-acres. Fire is currently spreading to the northeast and southeast and spotting into the Lau Creek drainage. Smoke is visible from the Tincup HIghway, Lanes Creek Cutoff Road and from the Freedom/Thayne area.