Horse

### 1. Fire Start, Size and Growth - **Start Date/Time/Location**: The Horse Fire was first reported on June 13, 2025, ignited by lightning approximately 2 miles west of Prospect Peak on the Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming. - **Size and Containment**: The fire has burned about 2,802 acres as of mid-July 2025 and is currently reported to be 90% contained. - **Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread**: The fire has been fueled primarily by heavy timber and slash, with some areas of downed timber and ash complicating suppression efforts. While the fire is contained within its overall footprint and no longer spreading beyond control features, there remain many "green islands" of unburned but dry fuels inside the perimeter that pose a risk of reignition, especially under conditions of high winds and low humidity. - **Containment Efforts**: Over 230 personnel, including ground crews and air support, have been engaged in firefighting operations. Firefighters continue to work on extinguishing hotspots within the perimeter to secure these green islands. Access challenges in the terrain have made this work difficult but ongoing[2][3]. ### 2. Emergency Information - **Evacuations and Sheltering**: There are no specific evacuation orders or warnings reported for communities near the Horse Fire. The fire is located in a remote forest area, and no large population centers are immediately threatened. - **Road Closures**: Some roads and trails in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near the fire remain closed for safety and to facilitate firefighting operations. - **Flight Restrictions**: Drone flights are prohibited in the area to avoid interference with firefighting aircraft. - **For more information, visit:** - Bridger-Teton National Forest updates (via local forest service or fire authority websites) - Wyoming State Forestry Division wildfire updates - Local news outlets such as Buckrail for ongoing fire coverage[1][2] ### 3. Current Impact - **Community Impact**: The Horse Fire is burning in a remote forested area with no reported destruction of structures or infrastructure. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. - **Air Quality and Safety Concerns**: Despite smoke from the fire, air quality in nearby communities has been reported as good recently. Fire managers continue to monitor conditions to protect public health. - **Fire Restrictions**: Fire managers have implemented closures of roads and trails in the affected forest area. Drone restrictions are in place to protect firefighting efforts. - **Environmental Impact**: The fire has burned heavy timber and slash, which may have ecological impacts but also reduces fuel loads in the forest. ### 4. Ongoing Outlook - **Containment Projections**: With 90% containment achieved, fire managers are focusing on securing remaining hotspots within the fire perimeter, especially in the green islands of unburned fuels. Continued monitoring and suppression efforts are expected to maintain containment and prevent spread beyond the current footprint. - **Weather and Fire Behavior**: Erratic winds and low relative humidity remain concerns that could cause spot fires or reignition within the perimeter. Firefighters remain vigilant for these conditions. - **Fire Management**: The fire is no longer spreading beyond control lines, but ongoing evaluation and suppression work will continue until full containment is declared[2][3]. ### 5. Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate - **Cause**: The Horse Fire was ignited by lightning on June 13, 2025. - **Weather and Climate**: The fire season in Wyoming is moderate overall, but localized drought conditions and weather patterns such as erratic winds and low humidity have contributed to fire behavior and challenges in suppression. These weather factors increase the risk of fire spread and reignition within the fire perimeter. - **Climate Context**: While Wyoming is experiencing a moderate wildfire season, ongoing drought and climate variability can elevate fire risk in forested areas like the Bridger-Teton National Forest[1]. If you need the latest updates or specific evacuation and road closure details, please consult official Bridger-Teton National Forest or Wyoming state fire resources.

Citations

['https://www.battstaging.com/state/wyoming/', 'https://buckrail.com/horse-fire-90-contained/', 'https://www.fireweatheravalanche.org/fires/137038431/wyoming/horse-fire', 'https://wildfiretrackers.com', 'https://buckrail.com/category/fire/']