TL;DR: The U.S. Forest Service closed roads, trails and backcountry around the 770-acre Kinky Creek Fire in the Gros Ventre Wilderness through July 15 to protect public safety.

Closure order takes effect for Kinky Creek Fire

The U.S. Forest Service closed roads, trails and a large section of backcountry in the Bridger-Teton National Forest because of the Kinky Creek Fire, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI.

The emergency closure took effect at 6 p.m. Tuesday and will remain in place through July 15 unless it is lifted sooner, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI. Forest officials say the closure is necessary to protect public safety as firefighters continue battling the wildfire.

The closure order supersedes any previous restrictions in the area, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI. Federal, state and local emergency responders are exempt from the closure while performing official duties.

Anyone who violates the closure order could face a Class B misdemeanor, fines of up to $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for organizations, and up to six months in jail, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI.

Additional information, including a map of the closure, is available through the Bridger-Teton National Forest, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI.

Which trails and roads are closed

The closure includes portions of the Clear Creek, Clear Creek Lake, Dry Fork Clear Creek, Lunch Lake Connector, Gros Ventre River, Bear Basin and Dry Fork/Gros Ventre River Connector trails, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI.

Several forest roads are also closed, including portions of Kinky Creek Road near Darwin Ranch and Tepee Creek Road, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI.

According to the Forest Service, as reported by LocalNews8.com - KIFI, the closure area stretches across the backcountry near Clear Creek, Brewster Lake, Lunch Lake, Doubletop Peak, Darwin Peak, Sunday Peak and Bacon Ridge.

Officials say numerous hazards associated with an uncontrolled wildfire make it unsafe for the public to enter the area, according to LocalNews8.com - KIFI.

The public is also asked to avoid Kinky Creek Road; Kinky Creek and Clear Creek trails; and Brewster, Lunch, and Chateau lakes so fire crews can work safely and efficiently, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

A forest closure order of the area was described as forthcoming in the June 25 morning update, and the emergency closure reported later that day implements that action.

Where the fire is burning

The lightning-caused fire is currently estimated at 770-acres in size, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

The Kinky Creek Fire is located west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls in the Gros Ventre Wilderness on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

Teton Interagency Fire crews responded yesterday afternoon to suppress the Kinky Creek Fire, located approximately three miles west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026.

The fire is burning in heavy timber along a steep slope and continued to exhibit active fire behavior, including torching, spotting, and running, until about 10:30 p.m. yesterday, when a brief rain shower helped moderate activity, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

On the prior day, the fire exhibited active fire behavior with torching, spotting, and running, quickly growing to an estimated 350-acres, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026.

A quickly moving fire near the Darwin Ranch had grown to more than 700 acres as of Thursday morning after breaking out Tuesday afternoon three miles south of the guest ranch in the Gros Ventre Wilderness, according to Wyoming Public Media.

How crews are attacking the fire

Fire managers are implementing direct extinguishment and indirect confinement strategies on the Kinky Creek Fire, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

A direct extinguishment strategy is when firefighters engage the active flame front directly to stop fire spread, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026. An indirect confinement strategy is when firefighters work away from the active flame front to steer or contain the fire.

Crews have established an anchor point at the heel of the fire and are working to keep the fire west and north of the Gros Ventre River, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026. They are also going direct on the south edge of the fire, working along the fire's perimeter to contain it.

An anchor point is a secure location that firefighters establish to begin building fireline from, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026. Smokejumpers were able to create an anchor point at the heel of the fire and are working to keep the fire on the west side of the Gros Ventre River, according to that June 24 release.

Additionally, fire personnel have set structure protection measures around Darwin Ranch, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026. Other resources began setting up structure protection around Darwin Ranch on the first response day, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026.

Today, aerial resources will continue working to limit fire spread and support ground operations by attacking the fire from above, particularly in areas too hazardous for firefighters to safely access, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

Command change and personnel on scene

Idaho Team 1, a type 3 incident management team, will take command of the fire today at 9:00 a.m., according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

A type 3 incident management team is a multi-agency organization of firefighting specialists that manage incidents of moderate complexity that require more resources and a longer operational duration than the local forest can handle alone, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026. That team was ordered to help with firefighting efforts and was expected to arrive by the evening of June 24.

Firefighting resources assigned to the fire include three type 1 helicopters, one type 2 helicopter, two type 3 helicopters, air attack, smokejumpers, two interagency hotshot crews, a type 2 initial attack crew, fire engines, and other support staff, with approximately 95 personnel assigned to the fire, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

On the prior day, firefighting resources included a type 3 helicopter, air attack, smokejumpers, fire engines, and other support staff, with over 50 firefighters working to suppress the fire, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026. Additional resources were also ordered and were to arrive June 25.

Crews were responding with smokejumpers, 50 firefighters and helicopters, with more multi-agency resources on the way, according to Wyoming Public Media.

SET warning for Darwin Ranch

Teton County Emergency Management has issued an advisory message that Darwin Ranch and nearby private lands are in SET status due to the Kinky Creek Fire, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

Fire activity may threaten the area if conditions change, according to that advisory. Residents are advised to prepare for possible evacuation (GO!) or shelter-in-place (STAY!) protective actions.

The advisory directs people to review plans, gather essentials, and be prepared for GO! or STAY! notifications, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

The Darwin Ranch and nearby private lands are in "Level 2: Set" evacuation warning, meaning anyone in the area should be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice, according to Wyoming Public Media.

For backcountry travelers with trips planned near Darwin Ranch, Clear Creek, Brewster Lake, Lunch Lake, Doubletop Peak, Darwin Peak, Sunday Peak and Bacon Ridge, the practical step stated by officials is to stay out of the closure and keep Kinky Creek Road and the listed trails and lakes clear for crews.

Weather, smoke and fire danger

Weather is predicted to be cooler over the next few days, with higher relative humidity and partly cloudy conditions along with a chance of precipitation, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

Weather is predicted to be cooler over the next few days, with the chance of rain, higher relative humidity and partly cloudy conditions, according to Wyoming Public Media, in its update on the closure.

Smoke may be visible in Teton, Sublette, and Fremont counties, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026. The public is asked not to report that smoke. For the latest air quality information, officials direct residents to visit AirNow.gov.

The fire danger rating is currently "high" for the Teton Interagency Dispatch area, which includes Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and the National Elk Refuge, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026.

Fires are discouraged under that high rating, according to Wyoming Public Media. Travelers should use the listed official sources for updates, including the incident page at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-kinky-creek-fire, TetonFires.com and TCIncident.org.

Find the latest updates, maps and more on the fire's InciWeb page, according to the Forest Service Kinky Creek Fire update for June 25, 2026. An InciWeb page was established for the incident at that address, according to the Forest Service release dated June 24, 2026.

Sources referenced