The sun turns red when seen through the smoke of the Lava Mountain Fire at the MacKenzie Highland Ranch near Dubois. The ranch is one of several evacuated this week because of the blaze. (Hector MacKenzie)
Add the ranches along the road from Dubois to Togwotee Pass to the list of places evacuated due to Wyoming wildfires. Residents of the MacKenzie Highland Ranch were the latest to go Wednesday, following other ranches there and evacuations in Sublette and Teton counties.
The Lava Mountain Fire was burning in the Togwotee Pass/Dubois area and had covered more than 1,000 acres by Thursday. The Cliff Creek Fire forced the Sublette and Teton County evacuations. Residents in Bondurant and Granite Creek were given the order to leave days ago as the blaze closed Highway 191 between Daniel and Hoback Junction. It had covered more than 10,000 acres by Thursday, burning one pole barn.
Fire danger in the region has been raised to “very high,” and the forecast calls for potential trouble. The National Weather Service in Riverton warns that a cold front will move across the state Friday afternoon and evening. “Gusty wind and lightning could bring critical fire conditions to some portions of western and central Wyoming,” the agency said.
My boyfriend grew up at Wind River Ranch (now McKenzie Ranch) and came to Alabama in 1971. We visited Dubois last September. I think Dubois is awesome and Wyoming being the most beautiful place I have ever been. It is so sad and hurts me terribly to see
this burn. These people are in my prayers.