The cool, wet weather from Thursday decreased the 13,000-acre Beaver Creek Fire’s behavior, but as that cooler, humid air moves out, a dry air mass will move in after the weekend and is expected to increase fire activity.
According to an update Friday from the Rocky Mountain Incident Team, creeping and smoldering was expected Friday. Light winds and afternoon thunderstorms limited fire activity.
The nearly 500 firefighters working on the fire are mopping up hot spots near structures within the fire perimeter and preparing structures near contingency lines, according to Friday’s update.
Early next week some heavy timber burning may occur as fuel dries out in the sun and the dry air moves in. Two new road closures were put in place Friday: Big Creek Road (498) and Forest Service Road 407 are closed in Wyoming.
The fire, which has charred 13,275 acres and is 5 percent contained as of Friday morning, is burning in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area, about 15 miles northwest of Walden. Fire managers are planning long-term tactics for the fire, which is not expected to be fully contained until Aug. 1.