Firefighters work to cool hot spots, an especially challenging
task throughout the rocky boulder fields
July 18, 2010
10-53
The Cathedral Group Fire in Grand Teton National Park was declared 100 percent contained at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 17. Fire crews completed a firebreak around the fire Saturday while suppressing hot spots in the interior of the fire and along the fire’s northeast flank. With more accurate Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping the fire was listed at 46 acres in size.
Today, approximately 40 firefighters will continue to work toward control of the Cathedral Group Fire. Fire crews will patrol the 1.2 mile long perimeter of the fire to reinforce fire lines and cool down any hot spots. A Teton Interagency helicopter is available today for backhaul missions as crews begin to pull lateral hose lines and other materials off the fire.
Firefighters laid 13,500 feet of hose during their efforts to suppress the fire, which was burning in a boulder field that made digging traditional fireline to mineral soil next to impossible.
The Cathedral Group turnout and the Boulder City off-trail area remain closed.
The fire is presumed to be human caused and is still under investigation. Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the Boulder City area on Tuesday evening—and can provide information about this fire—is requested to phone the Teton interagency fire-reporting line at 307.739.3630
Firefighters first responded to the Cathedral Group Fire on Tuesday evening, July 13. Full suppression efforts have been ongoing since that time.
The current fire danger rating is moderate. As the fire season progresses, fire managers remind area residents and visitors to make sure campfires are cold to the touch before leaving them, and to properly extinguish smoking materials in ash trays or bare mineral soil. For additional fire information and prevention tips, please visit www.tetonfires.com.
