Two major late-season wildfires that have been threatening communities in northern Wyoming for weeks are under control; This means that US Forest Service crews are now deliberately starting fires.

In the Bridger-Teton National Forest, where the Pack Trail Fire has burned 90,000 acres, crews contained the stubborn blaze by 95% at last report. The focus now is on prescribed burns in the area, according to the agency’s report.

“How quickly we go from putting out fires to starting fires at the Forest Service,” the Bridger-Teton National Forest reported Thursday. “With cold temperatures and snow on the ground, the fire has little chance of escaping, and Forest Service crews are now burning piles of logs and branches throughout the Bridger-Teton National Forest.”

The report says burns like those currently being implemented are important because they “reduce the fuel in the forest and the chances of a catastrophic wildfire down the road.”

These activities had to be put on hold before winter weather arrived, as fire conditions in the forest were too dry and volatile to burn anything, and the focus was on fighting and gaining control of the Pack Trail Fire.

According to the USFS, anyone who sees plumes of smoke coming from the forest is likely seeing controlled burns, especially in the La Barge and Pinedale areas.

As for the Pack Trail Fire, more than 90 people are still working on it as of last report.

“The fire is on patrol and monitoring as smoke and heat are still present inside,” the report states. “Winter weather and increased fuel moistures should continue to reduce the threat of ongoing fire activity.”

What about Elk Fever?

The situation is even better with the Elk Fire, which burned more than 98,000 acres on the east face of the Bighorn Mountains.

The Elk Fire, which broke out overnight and threatened the rural communities of Dayton and Parkman, is now 97% contained, according to a report from the U.S. Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest. More than six searches were made.

Work here continues to focus on firefighting repairs and cleanup, as well as the completion of firefighting efforts, particularly on Red Grade Road.

While cooler temperatures and snow-bringing winter weather helped turn the corner in containing a dangerous, advancing wildfire, they also made things muddy and difficult to access in some places, the agency reported.

“The immediate fire threat has diminished with the arrival of much-needed mid-October snowfall,” the Bighorn National Forest reported Wednesday.

Work will continue to construct breaks and fire lines for future protection of cabins and assets in the area.

While nearly 100% containment or containment was reported for both fires, it may take some time for 100% to be reported. This is because there are still some hot spots and smoldering areas on the inside of the burn areas that may take weeks or even months to completely subdue.

Greg Johnson can be reached at [email protected].