Teton Interagency Fire crews responded yesterday afternoon to suppress the Kinky Creek Fire, located approximately three miles west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls in the Gros Ventre Wilderness on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The fire is burning in timber on a steep slope, and yesterday exhibited active fire behavior with torching, spotting, and running, quickly growing to an estimated 350-acres. 

Yesterday, smokejumpers were able to create an anchor point at the heel of the fire and are working to keep the fire on the west side of the Gros Ventre River. An anchor point is a secure location that firefighters establish to begin building fireline from. Other resources began setting up structure protection around Darwin Ranch.

Firefighting resources include a type 3 helicopter, air attack, smokejumpers, fire engines, and other support staff, with over 50 firefighters working to suppress the fire. Additional resources have also been ordered and will arrive today. 

Fire managers are implementing direct extinguishment and indirect confinement strategies on the Kinky Creek Fire. A direct extinguishment strategy is when firefighters engage the active flame front directly to stop fire spread. An indirect confinement strategy is when firefighters work away from the active flame front to steer or contain the fire.

A type 3 incident management team has been ordered to help with firefighting efforts and should arrive by this evening. A type 3 incident management team is a multi-agency organization of firefighting specialists that manage incidents of moderate complexity that require more resources and a longer operational duration than the local forest can handle alone.

The public is asked to avoid Kinky Creek Road; Kinky Creek and Clear Creek trails; and Brewster, Lunch, and Chateau lakes so fire crews can work safely and efficiently. A forest closure order of the area is forthcoming.

The fire danger rating is currently “high” for the Teton Interagency Dispatch area, which includes Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and the National Elk Refuge.

For other news, events and information, visit the Bridger-Teton National Forest website and follow the Bridger-Teton on Facebook and X @BridgerTetonNF.

Smoke may be visible in Teton, Sublette, and Fremont counties. Please do not report.