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Stand 2 - Trail Ridge

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

The shift change began along this ridge during the late morning of August 21st. Smoke was hanging in the drainage, and the fire was backing down the north side of Trail Ridge. The Ten Sleep CCC relieved the Wapiti CCC Crew. The Ten Sleep CCC crew had been expected to arrive about 0800 to the base camp but didn't arrive until 1200. The BPR crew and Yellowstone CCC continued to work. Supervision of the suppression activities was transferred from Forest Supervisor Sieker and District Ranger Fifield to District Rangers Urban J. Post and Alfred G. Clayton. Deputy Forest Supervisor Carl Krueger continued to fly air patrol and report the fire's status.

Mr. Krueger reported several spot fires near the fireline at 1240. The spot fires were suppressed as the line was constructed. Krueger didn't identify any spots in the vicinity where the blowup originated. The strategy and tactics were that Ranger Post would take the lead with assistance from Jr. Forester Paul Tyrrell. Ranger Clayton followed to improve the line and catch any new spot fires. As Post and crew hiked the ridge to start work, he was on the lookout for spots over the line and into the next basin. At that time, no spot fires were seen below [see map B]. They were unaware that the relative humidity dropped to 6% with a temperature of 90° down at camp or that a spot was in the bottom one-third of a mile below them; they didn't anticipate afternoon winds. See Map B above.

From Stand 2, you can see the area that burned during the afternoon and throughout the night of August 20. Look for the regeneration of trees with older snags and skeletal trees. The initial strategy was to anchor and flank the fire. Hose lays were used from the creek bottom up the southern edge (right flank). Stand 2 is on the northern edge (left flank); this is where the hand crews put in direct line. Spots along the edge were dealt with individually. The intent early on August 21 was to continue to flank the fire to the rock rim above. As the day progressed, the crews crossed Trail Ridge and dropped into the next gulch, now known as Clayton Gulch.

Note: During the 2003 fire season, the Shoshone National Forest experienced the worst fire season on record with five large fires and 50 total starts. See Map C above.

From Stand 2, you can also see the 2003 Blackwater Fire, which was started by lightning on August 16, 2003. This fire was initially managed as a Type 3 incident with several hotshot crews and logistics support by the Wapiti Ranger District. For five days the strategy was to keep it west of Blackwater Creek and pinned to the ridge. On August 21, the fire grew significantly.  The Type 3 organization pulled back, heading to the 1937 memorial on the mountain. The fire is not staffed again until August 23.

The fire transitioned to a Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT). On August 25, all resources were pulled from the fire again as a dry air mass moved over (RH of 14%, Haines Index of 5, 60% standing dead timber). Again on August 26, the fire remained unstaffed because of the continued critical fire weather. The fire management objectives given to the Type 2 IMT by the Forest Service were to keep the fire confined in the Blackwater drainage but contain the northern edges. The southern edge could be left to burn back into the drainage where the natural rock rims would contain it. These objectives reduced exposure to firefighters aerial resources (helicopter and airtankers), resulted in a short commitment of the Type 2 organization, and most likely significantly reduced costs in comparison to a full control strategy.

Looking down from the trail into the area where the Blackwater Fire originated from a lightning struck tree.

Looking down from the trail into the area where the Blackwater Fire originated from a lightning struck tree.

First distinct switchback in the trail is the suggested location established for Stand 2.

First distinct switchback in the trail is the suggested location established for Stand 2.

 
Areas of overlap between the 1937 and 2003 fires can be seen. Notice the older snags evident in the foreground and the recently burned terrain in the background.

Areas of overlap between the 1937 and 2003 fires can be seen. Notice the older snags evident in the foreground and the recently burned terrain in the background.

 
Location (SRS)
POINT (-109.7508333 44.4119444)
Related Stand
Staff Ride to the Blackwater Fire

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