Fire Danger Rising in Western Wyoming

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) -- With the onset of fall hunting and recent dry weather, fire danger is growing in western Wyoming, Bridger-Teton National Forest officials said.

``Some of our high alpine meadows could easily carry fire,'' Fire Management Officer Paul Hutta said. ``We've had enough drying in some areas that it wouldn't take much to get a fire going.''

Vigorous undergrowth, which could serve as kindling for a large wildfire, resulted from an unusually wet spring and early summer.

The Forest Service urges visitors to extinguish campfires and warming fires completely with water and a shovel.

``The fall hunting season is usually when we get the most human-caused fires,'' said Nan Stinson, fire prevention technician for the Bridger-Teton forest. ``This year especially, we're afraid that people have been lulled into thinking that there is no danger of wildfire.''

Fifteen human-caused fires have been reported in the forest this year.