Buffalo Bill Reservoir closed

CODY — The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team (IMT), with Todd Pechota as Incident Commander, assumed command of the Whit Fire Friday morning at 6 a.m.

The Whit Fire is burning 12 miles west of Cody. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The IMT is working closely with Park County, the BLM Cody Field Office, and Shoshone National Forest on developing a plan that will focus on ensuring successful suppression of the fire while minimizing risks to firefighter safety.

Friday firefighters were scheduled to continue to evaluate structures and provide structure protections for all structures in the vicinity of the fire. On the north and west portions of the fire, firefighters were scheduled to construct handline from Whit Creek working south and from Breteche Creek working east. On the south and east portion of the fire, firefighters constructed a fireline from Bear Creek drainage working to the northeast and from Timber Creek to the East Fork/ West Fork divide.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir is closed because it is being used as a water source on the Whit Fire. The public is asked to not stop along Highway 14 as it is creating a safety issue.

As of 6 p.m. on Aug. 3, the following areas have been evacuated: Whit Creek Road, Big Hat Ranch, Golden Key Ranch, Simek Ranch, and County Road 6NS & all connecting roads to include Bear Creek Subdivision.

In addition, the Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office and the Shoshone National Forest have implemented temporary trail closures in the vicinity of the fire. The following trails are closed: Green Creek, Twin Creek, and Sheep Mountain Trails. More information on the closures can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/4921/.

The size of the fire is at 9,647 acres with more than 230 personnel fighting the fire.

Updates can be found at:

Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4921/

Twitter: Follow @WhitFireInfo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitfire

The Rocky Mountain IMT has a Facebook page dedicated to notes of appreciation for the firefighters working on the fire line. Visit https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs.

Information Boards: Information boards have been placed at the Wapiti School, Wapiti Post Office, and at the intersection of South Fork Highway and Bartlett Lane. Current fire information and maps will be posted to the boards each day.