Number of fires currently average

According to Thermopolis Fire Chief Mark Collins, the number of fires in the area is pretty normal at this time, according to the five-year average, though these first couple weeks in August are typically the start of the wild land fire season.

Collins said the farmers in the area have been very good about their controlled burns, watching them to make sure they don’t get out of hand. The fires that the department has had to respond to, he said, they’ve been able to get right on top of and get them out.

The Bureau of Land Management has been real responsive as well, Collins said.

He pointed out we are still under the provisions of the county fire ban, as well as those bans implemented by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. The county will not lift their ban, he said, until the other agencies lift theirs.

Regarding the upcoming eclipse, Collins said it will be right in the middle of fire season, and he plans to utilize the resources available to him. If other resources are available through BLM, the department may only send two or three trucks to a fire call rather than five or six. Not having to send as many trucks also means there are more available to send to additional calls that come in at the same time.

The number of resources the BLM has available to send to Thermopolis varies, Collins said, as the bureau is covering a wide area. He knows they have three Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) planes available, as well as two helicopters, but there may be more.

Collins is also concerned the Wind River Canyon might close up due to an accident during or around the eclipse. He advises people remain cautious during this season.