Unusually warm and dry weather has given way to tinder-dry conditions throughout the Bridger Teton National Forest (and most of the Mountain West, actually). 2012 brought us the driest June in over 60 years! July has blown in with significantly more precipitation, but it all comes in the form of thunderstorms, bringing lightning to ignite the parched forest. Hundreds of thousands of acres of beetle-killed trees only exacerbate the situation, increasing exponentially the amount of hazardous fuels. At present, two major fires are burning in the BT: the Fontenelle fire, at over 64,000 acres is south of Jackson near the towns of Afton and Big Piney. The Bear Cub fire is closer to home, but smaller--a smouldering 6,420 acres up on Togwotee Pass.
Of course, wildfire is part of the forest's natural life cycle of destruction and renewal. Did you know that lodgepole pine cones only open to release their seeds when heated to around 180 degrees F?
At SML, we remain content to follow the news updates of the fires, try to limit outdoor activity on particularly smokey days, and give thanks daily to be surrounded on two sides by water.
For the latest information about fires throughout the region (including some incredible pics of the Fontenelle Fire!) visit www.inciweb.org
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| A recent stormy July evening |
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