fires

The program was a priority of Gov. Mark Gordon’s after last year’s historic wildfires.

Xcel Energy was scheduled to go to court to fight a lawsuit brought by more than 4,000 homeowners, businesses and insurers.

Nearly every member of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department resigned over the recent firing of their chief. The area is still being served by another nearby department.

Wyoming could be the second state to pass a law limiting utilities liability — if they agree to help mitigate fires.

Fire crews are starting to do some prescribed burning in Grand Teton National Park this week. The efforts help reduce future wildfire risk by burning dead wood and brush in the cooler late fall conditions.

Firefighters are battling longer fire seasons with less people. Volunteerism has dropped nationwide – and Wyoming is seeing that trend, too. Fire departments are asking themselves how to regain numbers for a vital community service.

Highway 26/287 over Togwotee Pass temporarily re-opened on Friday morning. The road’s been closed for most of the week as crews have worked to keep the Fish Creek Fire from jumping the highway. Expect slow speeds and limited visibility.

Residents of the Brooks Lake, Pinnacle Drive and Breccia Drive areas have been under a Level 3 evacuation notice since Tuesday evening. U.S. Highway 26 over Togwotee Pass remains closed.

Crews have finished 28 percent of the actions they want to take to confine the blaze and protect Highway 26/287, the Brooks Lake Lodge and nearby cabins.

The study's lead author says that land managers could do fuels treatments in the wake of such burns to extend that mitigating impact.