Terek Fire 60 percent contained

By TRACIE MITCHELL

Staff Writer

WORLAND – According to the latest up-date from BLM (Bureau of Land Management) public affairs spokesperson Laura Lozier, the Terek Fire, as of Tuesday evening, was 60 percent contained and encompasses 36,000 acres, burning in sage and grass.

While there has been no reports of any damage to structures, Walt and Gail Schwede, Manderson residents whose farm is on Wyoming Highway 31, had a close call as the fire burned six acres of their property and came close to their shop. Friends and family helped the Schwedes move their farm equipment out of the fire's path and they feel that their property is out of additional danger. "Can't restart what is burned already, so we should be OK," Gail Schwede said.

She added that the canal provided a needed fire break.

Schwede said they have lived on their farm for the past 13 years and this is the only time they have been threatened by a wildland fire. They are located within the road closure as the fire has prompted the closure of Wyoming Highway 31 from milepost 0 to 15. The road was closed Monday night to through traffic (local residents are the only ones allowed on the road). The road was set to open at 10 p.m. Tuesday night. The closure was in place to ensure the protection of the public and fire personnel.

BLM, private and state land has been affected, with 33,032 acres of BLM, 350 acres of private land and 1,400 acres of state land burned as of Monday night. Over 120 personnel, four single engine air tankers, two heavy air tankers, one type 1 helicopter, one type 3 helicopter, and two air attack platforms are currently working the fire along with numerous ground resources.

Federal, state and county firefighters continue to work on constructing the fire perimeter and limiting the potential fire threat to individuals and private property.  Ground crews are in place to protect any threatened structures and no structures have been reported lost at this time. 

The Terek Fire was reported on Sunday night to the Cody Dispatch Center at 11:02 p.m., but Washakie County fire crews were originally dispatched about 10:30 p.m.

The fire is located northeast of Worland in Washakie and Big Horn counties, north of U.S. Highway 16 and south of WYO 31 mostly. It was originally three smaller lightning-caused fires which burned together.

Temperatures reached 100 on Tuesday and scattered showers and gusty winds were forecast for Tuesday night. Today the National Weather Service is calling for a 10 percent chance of showers after 3 p.m. and 20 percent chance before midnight Wednesday night. Temperatures are forecast in the high 80s Wednesday and Thursday.