Arapahoe fire in Wyoming finally contained

The largest wildland fire in Wyoming this season has been declared contained as of Thursday, Aug. 23 and is now in patrol status. The Arapaho Fire, 98,115 acres in size, had been burning on the Laramie Peak unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest since lightning started the fire on June 27. At it's peak, the fire had around 1,051 people assigned to it.

With the exception of the Arapaho Trail, all of those public-use recreation areas and trails have been opened and the area closure has been removed.

Notably, the Friend Park Campground, Friend Creek Trail and Trailhead, as well as the North Laramie River Trail and Trailhead may now be used by the public.

Although open, all areas received extensive damage and are still being assessed for long-term recovery and treatment needs. Caution should be used when traveling through or using areas within the fire.

Recent weather trends allowed direct suppression tactics by firefighters on remaining hot spots along in steep and rugged portions of Laramie Peak and Eagle Peak, within the west and northwest portions of the Arapaho Fire.

Although containment has been achieved, full control of the fire may not occur until a season-ending precipitation event can help suppress remaining interior hot spots. Visible smoke columns should be expected in hot and dry conditions, as unburned, interior portions of the fire could still ignite.

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