Dollar Lake Fire Expands, Willow Creek Blaze Slows Down

Fire crews battling two big wildfires in western Wyoming are seeing mixed progress. The Dollar Lake Fire is still growing, while containment on the Willow Creek Fire has ticked up.

The Dollar Lake Fire, burning near the Green River Lakes, stretched out to 15,236 acres over the weekend after holding steady for several days. Containment sits at 22%, according to the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Crews are busy shoring up defenses around the Red Cliff Bible Camp and carving a new fire line between the camp and Little Sheep Mountain. Structure teams are also beefing up defensible space and standing ready to jump on any new flare-ups.

Hot, dry weather isn’t helping. Forecasters say fire activity could pick up again as temps climb into the mid-70s, humidity dips below 20%, and winds push in from the southwest. Expect more smoke on the horizon.

Meanwhile, there’s better news down south. The Willow Creek Fire, burning near Smoot, has actually shrunk slightly to 4,065 acres and is now 38% contained. Helicopters dumping water on the east and west flanks gave firefighters an edge. Crews have even camped out near the fire line to attack hot spots faster. Sprinklers and hoses are in place to protect homes if needed.

Evacuation orders haven’t changed for either fire. Around Dollar Lake, a five-mile radius remains under mandatory evacuation, with the Red Cliff Bible Camp also cleared out. Areas farther out are still in “be ready” or “set” status.

The Forest Service also has a closure order in effect for parts of the Green River drainage and roads around the Dollar Lake Fire. Stage 1 fire restrictions are still in place, meaning campfires are only allowed in designated pits at developed sites.

For now, firefighters will keep mopping up hot spots, patrolling, and reinforcing control lines. And with no rain in the forecast, they know it’s going to be a grind.

Buckrail, County 10, and County 17 contributed to this report.