Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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August 11, 2020 came this week. August 11 is a very important day in Hot Springs County history. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the day when the Kates Basin Fire blew up. That day two other things happened that we must never forget. The summer of 2000 was a big wildfire season. Crews were stretched thin trying to keep pressure on 60 big fires that were raging in the west. On July 30, the Thermopolis Fire Department was involved with federal crews brought in from around the country tackling a wind driven fire up on Enos Creek, west of...
Having had several severe thunderstorms this summer has taught us a lot. Some are good things like the fact that storms seem to miss us more than they hit us. Some are bad, like hail dents cars and destroys windows and roofs and siding and chops up crops in the fields. But one thing I learned was that people need to remember the basics. Phone apps and CodeRED messages and Sirens are great tools but they will never replace being aware of your surroundings and alert for signs of danger. Thunder is often the first clue we get. You are in the...
Annually, as we approach another Perseids Meteor Shower in August, I am reminded of a day back in 2000, and a wildfire. It was August 11. The Kates Basin Fire was burning the ridge from Blondie Pass to the Wind River Canyon. The day began fairly benign. Crews were making progress building fire line. Breezes were just 3-5 miles per hour. But then, just after noon, the wind began gusting to 45 miles per hour. With humidity around 10 percent and temperatures above 90, the fire exploded. Working on Mexican Pass that day was Jim Burnett, an...
Many folks still like to joke that Anchor Dam does not hold water. But here is a photo, taken June 6, 2017, that is proof it does. In fact, Anchor Reservoir is as full as it can get. Completed around 1960 water seeped into sink holes, making the dam essentially unusable for storage. By 1970 a system of dykes was built behind the dam to prevent water from entering the more porous areas. Today the reservoir will not hold what was once intended, but it does serve perfectly for flood control and...
8 has been interesting. We welcomed in the New Year with an ice jam which had the potential to create great damage and evacuations, but fortunately a temperature increase during the second night, to -15, reversed the growth of the jam and the day was saved. Memorial Day weekend it rained…and rained and rained. Flash Flood Warnings were issued from both sides of our county, and several occurred. The heavy rains which were seen here in Hot Springs County were also seen in the Wind River high country, soaking into the snowpack. Predictions for...
Fifteen years ago this week, the Kate’s Basin Fire was raging up on the divide between Hot Springs County and the Wind River Reservation. On August 11, 2000, in a place called Mexican Pass a firefighter lost his life in that fire. His name was James Alan Burnett. Mr. Burnett was 51 years old and though he lived in Hatfield, Arkansas, he worked for Oklahoma Forestry Services. He came to Wyoming as part of a five man team, first to battle the Enos Creek fire and then the enormous Kate’s Basin fire. Through the winds and flames some very bra...
