Medicine Bow Warns of High Fire Danger

A wildfire this past week on the Pole Mountain unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to issue some cautionary messages to Forest users.

A 13-acre, human-caused wildfire this past week on Pole Mountain is clear indication that conditions are ripe for fires.  Crews from the Laramie Fire Department, various volunteer fire departments and the U.S. Forest Service were able to quickly respond to the wildfire on Tuesday evening, March 27, and the fire was contained by Wednesday evening.  Mop up of the fire by USFS crews continued into Thursday.

The exact cause of the wildfire, located just off Forest Road 712D on the eastern edge of the Forest, is still under investigation by law enforcement, but it is certain that the fire was human caused. The fire burned grass, sagebrush and some timber in the area.

The Laramie Ranger District would like to remind the public of the high fire danger.  There is also a shooting prohibition and seasonal road closures in effect that users should be aware of.

Fuels are currently very dry in southeast Wyoming, humidity is low, temperatures are above average, and winds are expected to remain high, which combined together make for high fire danger.  Although no fire restrictions are currently in place on Pole Mountain, campers and other public land users need to follow basic fire safety rules.

Recreationists should also take note that by special order, the Forest Service prohibits the discharge of firearms within the Pole Mountain unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest from March 31 through September 10.

For additional information on recreational use of the Pole Mountain area, please contact the Laramie Ranger District office at 307-745-2300 or visit http://fs.usda.gov/mbr.