Elk Fire update (as of 10 a.m. Oct. 9) | Local News

Fire activity increased Tuesday night

Dayton — Due to high, gusty winds and low humidity Tuesday night, Elk Fire activity increased significantly northwest of the Big Goose Water Treatment Plant. The fire remains at 16% contained and has burned 75,969 acres as of 10 a.m. Oct. 9. 

Nearby resources working the night shift—one dozer, one hotshot crew, and eight engines—responded to the area. The weather today will be warmer, drier, and the fire will likely be more active. Numerous aircraft are assigned to the incident and will be conducting water and retardant drops.

Current Situation: Today, the crews will continue to prepare the 144 Road and conduct more firing operations to protect the Little Bighorn Canyon. That area of the fire is active and in steep drainages that are producing smoke.

On the southeastern and southern parts of the fire, mop up and patrolling continues in the Crystal Springs area. Firefighting crews will continue to build additional control lines and prepare areas for potential low-intensity, strategic firing operations that would protect the watershed and associated water-treatment plant structures.

On the western side of the fire in the Burgess Junction area, structure protection is in place. Firefighters remain in place to protect structures and engage the fire if necessary.

Road closures extended

The Wyoming Department of Transportation has extended the road closure limits on U.S. Highway 14 north of the Antelope Butte Ski Area and U.S. Highway 14A east of Lovell.

To accommodate access to Hunt Area 40 outside of the Elk Fire closure areas west of Burgess Junction, the Wyoming Highway Patrol has moved those closures to milepost 85.6 — Hunt Mountain Road/Forest Service Road 10 on U.S. Highway 14A, and to milepost 38.3 — Granite Pass/Hunt Mountain Road/Forest Service Road 10 on U.S. Highway 14.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol will have troopers posted at these two locations.

Motorists will encounter barricades with no access on U.S. Highway 14A at Forest Service Road 14 (Sheep Mountain/Devils Canyon) and Forest Service Road 15 (Dayton Gulch) located within the U.S. Forest Service Elk Fire closure.

WYDOT, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Bighorn National Forest ask motorists and hunters to be extremely mindful of firefighting equipment in the area and to be familiar with the boundaries of the Elk Fire.

After Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office deputies allowed property owners of Red Grade to access their properties in anticipation of the fire moving south along the Bighorn Mountain range, Red Grade is now closed to all traffic until further notice to allow for fire suppression crews to have unencumbered access. 

Additionally, Sheridan County officials are asking the public to avoid Dayton East Road during the hours of 6-9 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. to allow emergency personnel to travel to and from the fire camp to ensure efficient response efforts. 

Use alternate routes during the designated hours. 

To see former reporting of the Elk Fire, click through pages. 

More than 800 personnel fighting fire

DAYTON — A total of 829 personnel are working on containing the now 75,969-acre Elk Fire, which started by lightning Sept. 27 in the Bighorn National Forest. Crews have increased containment to 16%, as of 10 p.m. Oct. 8.

Good progress was made in structure preparation near the Big Goose Water Facility, fire officials reported Tuesday night. 

Containment is a tactical point at which a fire’s spread is stopped by and within specific features, constructed or natural, in a way which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread. In shorter terms, no further spread is expected under foreseeable conditions.

Road closures extended

The Wyoming Department of Transportation has extended the road closure limits on U.S. Highway 14 north of the Antelope Butte Ski Area and U.S. Highway 14A east of Lovell.

To accommodate access to Hunt Area 40 outside of the Elk Fire closure areas west of Burgess Junction, the Wyoming Highway Patrol has moved those closures to milepost 85.6 — Hunt Mountain Road/Forest Service Road 10 on U.S. Highway 14A, and to milepost 38.3 — Granite Pass/Hunt Mountain Road/Forest Service Road 10 on U.S. Highway 14.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol will have troopers posted at these two locations.

Motorists will encounter barricades with no access on U.S. Highway 14A at Forest Service Road 14 (Sheep Mountain/Devils Canyon) and Forest Service Road 15 (Dayton Gulch) located within the U.S. Forest Service Elk Fire closure.

WYDOT, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Bighorn National Forest ask motorists and hunters to be extremely mindful of firefighting equipment in the area and to be familiar with the boundaries of the Elk Fire.

After Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office deputies allowed property owners of Red Grade to access their properties in anticipation of the fire moving south along the Bighorn Mountain range, Red Grade is now closed to all traffic until further notice to allow for fire suppression crews to have unencumbered access. 

Additionally, Sheridan County officials are asking the public to avoid Dayton East Road during the hours of 6-9 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. to allow emergency personnel to travel to and from the fire camp to ensure efficient response efforts. 

Use alternate routes during the designated hours. 

To see former reporting of the Elk Fire, click through pages. 

Community meeting moves south with fire

BIG HORN — The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 and group of officials coordinating efforts to attack the Elk Fire in the Bighorn National Forest will host a community meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Big Horn High School.  

The meeting will be recorded and posted to the Bighorn National Forest Facebook page, as well. 

The Elk Fire has consumed 74,685 acres and is 10% contained as of 8:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to InciWeb. 

Classes are back in session for the Tongue River side of Sheridan County School District 1, sans the Slack Elementary School. 

Red Grade Road remains closed to all public after two days of allowing property owners access to secure their homes. The next few days, Red Grade Road will see an increase in firefighting equipment and personnel, and the roads in that area need to be clear for fire personnel to do their work safely and efficiently.

Evacuation levels decreased for some areas of Sheridan County. The most recent evacuation lists include:

GO

• Eatons’ Ranch

• West of Pass Creek Road

• West of Big Goose Road

• West of Beckton Road and South of Eaton Ranch Road

SET

• Pass Creek Road from Highway 345 west to Slack Road and north to the Montana state line. This includes the residences along Slack Road. South along East Pass Creek Road from its intersection with Pass Creek Rd to the Forest Service boundary continuing east to include the length of Twin Creek Road.

• Residences along Amsden Road. Residences east of the intersection of Amsden Road and Tongue Canyon Road to the town of Dayton.

• Residences east of US Hwy 14 up to the Horseshoe Ranch. This includes the Eagle Ridge Subdivision.

• West of Beckton Road south of Dayton to Eaton’s Ranch Road west to Eaton’s Ranch.

READY

• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman, north of Amsden Road, and west of Wy HWY 343. This includes residences along Smith Creek Road and Columbus Creek Road.

• The town of Parkman residents and the residents north of Parkman, on both sides the east and west sides of HWY 345, up to the Montana state line.

• South of Montana state line to Wy HWY 345, east to I-90, and east to Barker Road. This includes residences in the Parkman Hills Subdivision and residences along the west side of Barker Road.

Lightning confirmed start

Bighorn National Forest officials confirmed the start of the Elk Fire was from lightning. 

A certified fire investigator was helicoptered into the area where the fire started, and it has been confirmed that the cause was indeed lightning, according to a post on BNF’s Facebook page. 

Officials would not release the name of the individual fire investigator. The point of origin is near Dry Fork Ridge between Miller and West Fork Taffner creeks, according to InciWeb, which BNF Public Information Officer Sara Evans Kirol said was accurate. 

To see former reporting of the Elk Fire, click through pages. 

Red Grade Road closed to the public again

After two days where cabin owners were granted permission along Red Grade Road to access their property, red Grade Road is once again officially closed to the public. All cabin owners were asked to be off the road and out of their properties at 5 p.m. Monday. 

The next few days, Red Grade Road will see an increase in firefighting equipment and personnel, and the roads in that area need to be clear for fire personnel to do their work safely and efficiently.

Any vehicles contacted on Red Grade Road may constitute enforcement action by law enforcement.

Tongue River schools to move back to in person Oct. 8

After the alert status for the town of Dayton was moved back from “set” to “ready” as of 1:40 p.m. Oct. 7 and speaking with emergency personnel, Sheridan County School District 1 will proceed with in person activities this afternoon and return to school in person at all schools in Tongue River Oct. 8., except for Slack Elementary. 

Air quality will be monitored as usual, and decisions based on participation because of air quality will be communicated out to coaches, students and athletes by school administrators, SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones said in an Oct. 7 message to district staff and families. 

Fire start confirmed lightning

Bighorn National Forest officials confirmed the start of the Elk Fire was from lightning. 

A certified fire investigator was helicoptered into the area where the fire started, and it has been confirmed that the cause was indeed lightning, according to a post on BNF’s Facebook page. 

Officials would not release the name of the individual fire investigator. The point of origin is near Dry Fork Ridge between Miller and West Fork Taffner creeks, according to InciWeb, which BNF Public Information Officer Sara Evans Kirol said was accurate. 

Weekend weather increases fire acreage, 10% containment accomplished

DAYTON — Firefighters are ready to attack the Elk Fire head on, rather than responding defensively, Bighorn National Forest Supervisor Andrew Johnson said. 

The Elk Fire, which started Sept. 27 by a now-undetermined cause, has grown to 72,998 acres and is 10% contained after weekend winds caused high fire activity through the Bighorn National Forest. 

“We’ve been on the defense from the start when the fire was first reported to us at 8:30 in the morning, and we launched an air attack aircraft that we had prepositioned in Sheridan for just this sort of thing,” Johnson said, noting they sent two engines, a 20-person hand crew and launched two helicopters within the first 10 minutes of the Elk Fire. “We fought hard, but again we’ve been on the defense from the start. This fire has shown an incredible resistance to control, it’s been driven hard by the weather and it’s grown the way you’ve seen it grow.  

In the forest’s 100-year history, the largest fire recorded 18,000 acres and took about a month to grow to that size. The Elk Fire, Friday night and early Saturday morning, grew 25,000 acres in a matter of hours, Johnson said. 

“I’m sick of being on the defense,” Johnson continued. “Working together with the team, we’re coming up with strategies we think will have a high probability of success that mitigate risk to our firefighters and aviators and protect those critical values at risk — your homes, your lives, your livelihoods, your private lands and our backyard and our drinking water.”

Johnson said crews are ready to go on the offensive, taking advantage of bettering weather conditions this week. 

Incident Meteorologist Shawn Palmquist said cold front winds over the weekend paired with above average temperatures for Sheridan County and Burgess Junction caused non-ideal weather conditions for fire activity. 

This week, Palmquist said, Sheridan County will be under the influence of high pressure, bringing the area back to warm and dry conditions, with temperatures in the 60s at Burgess Junctions most days and 70s and 80s in the lower portion of the fire. Humidity will remain low, but winds will remain lighter during the day and overnight. 

The fire consumed two primary residences in the Horseshoe Subdivision over the weekend, but all other primary residences in the fire’s wake have been spared at this time. 

Structure protection tactics were and will continue to be utilized to prepare the Big Goose Water Treatment facility for any fire that may move into the area. Efforts are continuing to mitigate fire damage to the Big Goose Creek watershed, which feeds the water treatment facility and currently sits in READY evacuation zone. 

Additional updates, including emergency updates, Sheridan County School District 1 school schedules, air and weather conditions, fire attack plans, evacuation notices and other stories from those impacted by the Elk Fire can be seen online at thesheridanpress.com. 

To see former reporting of the Elk Fire, click through pages. 

SCSD#1 sets tentative schedule

Sheridan County School District #1 has set a tentative schedule for the week as the Elk Fire continues to burn.

All schools on the Tongue River side of the school district will be closed on Oct. 7 with no expectation of virtual learning.

“We need to give people a day to rest, recover and be ready for life transitioning out of immediate crisis mode,” Superintendent Jeff Jones said in an email to parents.

Tongue River Elementary and Tongue River Middle school will return to in-person learning on Tuesday and for the remainder of the week. If the town of Dayton is still in “set” status on Tuesday, TRHS will be online. If the town reverts to “ready” status, school will be in person.

Homecoming activities will move forward at TRHS if Dayton is moved from “set” to “ready” status. If Dayton remains in “set,” then those activities will be postponed. The administration from TRHS and TRMS will announce more details tomorrow as the situation evolves.

Emergency Management Personnel is recommending Slack School not be in person for the next few days, although the district will re-evaluate this daily, Jones said. Principal Ryan Fuhrman has been in touch with impacted families and will create an alternative educational plan plan based on each family’s circumstances.

School in Big Horn will be as normal on Monday, although the district will continue to monitor the situation hourly and communicate with all District staff and families whenever things change in Big Horn.

Red Grade cabin owners granted limited access Oct. 6

In cooperation with the incident management team, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office and Bighorn National Forest are allowing access for owners of cabins along Red Grade Road Oct. 6. This access will only be allowed until 5 p.m., and is only for cabins located along Red Grade Road.

Cabin owners will need to check-in with law enforcement at the Red Grade Road closure with their official ID, plate number and the location and address of the cabin they are visiting. Cabin owners must check out with law enforcement before 5 p.m. tonight. No trailers or heavy equipment will be allowed past the Red Grade Road closure.

Further opportunities may be available in future days, as fire conditions allow, for others interested in retrieving items from the mountain.

Elk Fire now near 73,000 acres

The Elk Fire currently stretches 72,998 acres, and is still 0% contained. A total of 597 personnel are fighting the fire six miles northwest of Dayton

Smoke is settling over the Elk Fire area from fires further to the west. This is expected to continue and is likely to decrease fire activity on Oct. 6. This smoke may also impact air operations as helicopters need a minimum of one mile visibility to operate on wildland fires.

The operational shift on the evening of Oct. 5 found heat coming from a structure on the eastern side of the fire; heavy equipment was used to remove burning hay inside a barn. The fire was extinguished outside of the structure.

Throughout Oct. 6, structure protection work will continue on the northwestern side of the fire in Little Horn Canyon and crews will be looking for favorable conditions to burn unconsumed vegetation south of Hwy 144. On the eastern side of the fire, crews will continue to extinguish areas of heat along established firelines.

Crews will continue structure protection work in the subdivisions along US HWY 14 and patrol and mop up any heat sources around structures. Structure protection tactics have been utilized to prepare the Big Goose Water Treatment facility for any fire that may move into the area. Efforts are continuing to mitigate fire damage to the Big Goose Creek watershed, which feeds the water treatment facility.

Fire crews are continuing structure protection work in the Burgess Junction area; this work includes multiple structure preparation techniques such as removal of vegetation near structures, construction of fireline, and placement of hose and sprinklers where possible.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority as the fire continues. The tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time with a focus on implementing plans and tactics that have a high probability of success.

US Highway 14 remains closed from Dayton to Burgess Junction. Contact the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office at 307-672-3455 or Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174 for more information on evacuations and road closures.

Closures in the Bighorn National Forest have been expanded to include Forest System Roads 14, 11 and 111 in the Bighorn National Forest. Red Grade Road remains closed.  The closures are in effect to protect firefighter and public safety.

Oct. 6 is the start of a warming, drying trend over the fire area as a high pressure system moves into the area. Winds are expected to be light and terrain-driven over the course of the day. Smoke that is anticipated to move into the area from fires further to the west may cause smoke shading and keep temperatures lower than the forecasted highs ranging in the mid 60s to low 70s.

It is anticipated the Elk Fire will continue to put up a smoke column.

Fire at 76,000 acres now 

Bighorn National Forest officials said the fire had now reached 76,003 acres burned.

Two homes lost in Elk Fire

Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two primary resident homes were lost early Saturday morning due to the high winds along with increased and unpredictable fire activity in the area of Horseshoe Subdivsion.

Firefighters were in the area throughout the night and early morning providing structure protection to those homes; during increased erratic fire behavior as the cold front passed early this morning, they had to evacuate the immediate area surrounding these structures.

While officials said they regret the loss of property, the number one goal is always the safety of the public and the firefighters. The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office deputies notified the landowners and they are currently coordinating with the incident management team liaisons.

Saturday morning update

SHERIDAN — The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 Incident Commander Casey Cheesbrough confirmed updates for the Elk Fire Saturday.

Friday afternoon fire activity update

The fire has been active on the west side Friday and is putting up heavy smoke as it is burning in heavy timber along the Dry Fork drainage, according to Bighorn National Forest officials. This portion of the fire is actively moving to both the southwest and northwest.

The northeastern side of the fire has shown little fire activity in most areas thus far and is not moving actively. The fire is burning patches of timber in the Tongue River Canyon; these areas are within the current fire perimeter. And resources are confident lines in this area will hold.

There has been an increase in activity west of Steamboat Point near Cutler Creek. Air resources are being used heavily to slow spread toward Highway 14 and structures in that area.

East of Steamboat Point, the fire is active south of Highway 14. Additional evacuations were ordered earlier in the day for the Eatons’ Ranch area. Airtankers have been dropping retardant throughout the day to slow fire spread in this area.

There is a hard closure to all traffic, to include fire resources in this area.

Full crews prepare for heavy activity Friday, into weekend

DAYTON — Fire activity on the Elk Fire in the Bighorn National Forest remained fairly quiet overnight Thursday, but in preparation for incoming weather — forecasted high winds and high temperatures Friday and Saturday — Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office issued increased evacuation statuses for a wider area in Sheridan County and fire crews prepped areas to preserve structures. 

All hands on deck

The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 will utilize all 528 personnel to fight fires Friday and Saturday. The fire remains at 0% containment and consumed 51,115 acres thus far. 

Red flag warning issued

A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Friday at noon until Saturday at 6 p.m. The forecast includes temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s and relative humidity in the teens. Winds are forecast to shift from the southeast to southwest and west during the day, gusting up to 30 mph in the afternoon. Overnight Friday, the winds are expected to shift to be out of the northwest and gusting up to 50 mph; this is associated with the passage of a cold front. With this anticipated hot, windy weather, it is likely there will be an increase to the size of the fire.

Crews prepare Thursday for weekend

After having previously used a bulldozer to create a fireline, fire crews utilized an Unmanned Aircraft System to implement a successful burnout operation west of the Horseshoe Subdivision Thursday, the incident management Friday morning update said. By intentionally placing fire on the ground between the fireline and the main fire, fire managers were able control the rate at which the vegetation was burned under calmer conditions. This tactic was utilized to lessen the chance of fire advancing upon structures in the future. Overnight Thursday, crews continued burning vegetation to increase the distance between structures and the southeast side of the main fire.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time with a focus on only implementing plans and tactics that have a high probability of success.

New evacuation areas issued

With an anticipated increase in fire activity due to critical fire weather today through Saturday, please keep all county and local roads clear. If you stop to look, you could stop first responders.

Air suppression efforts continue Friday

For previous updates on the fire, click through additional pages below. 

Sheriff issues new evacuation statuses 

Working with the team managing the Elk Fire, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office has placed a few new areas into new evacuation status to give residents time to plan ahead. This has been done in advance of incoming weather with forecasted high winds to start tomorrow afternoon and continue into Saturday. A similar weather pattern occurred over the fire area last weekend, which caused erratic fire behavior.

New areas in “Set” include:

• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman, north of Amsden Road, and west of Wy HWY 343. This includes residences along Smith Creek Road and Columbus Creek Road.

• Eatons’ Ranch

New areas in “Ready” include:

• South of Montana state line to Wy HWY 343, east to I-90, and east to Barker Road. This includes residences in the Parkman Hills Subdivision and residences along the west side of Barker Road.

• West of Beckton Road from Dayton, continuing south to the intersection of Beckton Road and Big Goose Road. This also includes the area west of Rapid Creek Road.

Additionally, Columbus Creek Road is closed at the intersection of Wy HWY 343 and Columbus Creek Road.

Fire consumes nearly 50,000 acres

Updates from the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 Thursday morning showed large growth in the lightning-caused Elk Fire near Dayton Wednesday, now totaling 49,555 acres burned with 0% containment and 200 personnel working to preserve human life first and structures second. 

Hot, windy weather is anticipated to start Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday, which will likely bring increased fire activity and spread. 

The fire was less active overnight due to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity over the fire. 

Access closed to community trailheads

The Poverty Flat, Bear Gulch East and Aspens Trailheads at the Sheridan Community Land Trust’s Red Grade Trails system are closed in accordance with the U.S. Forest Service – Bighorn National Forest closures related to the Elk Fire. 

The land trust asks that community members not use the trails or the trailheads until the closure is lifted. 

Base and Springs Trailhead at Red Grade Trails remain open as do all trails on the Soldier Ridge Trail System and The Green Room Trail. 

Bighorn National Forest extends closure to north of Red Grade

The Big Horn National Forest has extended the forest closure and is now closed from Red Grade Road north. Stage 2 fire restrictions are now in effect in the national forest.

Sibley fire confirmed as part of Elk Fire

Complex Incident Management Team 3 officials confirmed fire at Sibley Lake and campground. Officials could not confirm start time or size, but confirmed that fire in the Sibley area is part of the larger Elk Fire. 

The team is working on a larger fire update this afternoon. 

All schools on the Tongue River side of district to be closed Oct. 3

Tongue River High School, elementary, middle school and Slack School will be closed Oct. 3 and there will be no virtual online expectation for schooling.

TRE and TRMS will dismiss as normal at 4 p.m. Oct. 2, TRHS was online and Slack was closed.

At 11 a.m. Oct. 2, Sheridan County School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones held a Zoom meeting with a large group of administrators and supervisory staff from across the district. In the meeting, Jones gathered information regarding the current status of the school district as a result of the fire.

“Not surprisingly, the impact is getting more and more difficult to manage. We have a large, growing number of staff members absent because they are either fighting the fire, needing to leave to get to Dayton so they can prepare for the potential of an evacuation, etc. We have many more staff members who, while they may still be in school, are incredibly shaken because in one way or another, they are greatly impacted by what is happening at this moment,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families.

All activities on the Tongue River side are canceled for the balance of the week and weekend. This includes practices as well as home and away games. Efforts will be made to reschedule the events.

“There are scenarios where we simply don’t have bus drivers, coaches, etc. We also don’t want students to be coming in and out of the parking lot at TRHS to get things to get to a practice or game,” Jones said in an email to district staff and families. “Finally, to be frank, it doesn’t make sense to be playing a ballgame out of town while your family’s home is in jeopardy of burning down. Every effort will be made to reschedule events.”

For families who need extra time to prepare things in Dayton, there will be staff at TRE and TRMS who are willing to stay longer after school with children. The district also has extra space near the bus barn in Ranchester if people need extra space for campers, Jones said in the email.

Town of Dayton in “ready” pre-evacuation order

Here are the most recent evacuation orders, as of 10:55 a.m. Wednesday:

The Sheridan County Sheriff has increased the evacuation status of both the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and the residences directly adjacent to the east of U.S. Highway 14, going up the mountain, to “Set.” If you are in either of these areas, please take the time now to gather up important things and be prepared to evacuate if notified.

The town of Dayton has been placed in a “Ready,” or pre-evacuation, status. If you live in the town of Dayton, take the time now to think about what you would want to take with you or where you might go if the Town of Dayton is put into a “Set” status.

• Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman

• Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt.

• Town of Parkman residents and residents of north of Parkman, on both the east and west sides of Highway 345 up to the Montana state line are now under a pre-evacuation or, “ready,” notice. This does not include the Hersey Road area.

Residents in the “ready” stage should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Emergency personnel have contacted all affected residents directly.

The town of Dayton is not under a pre-evacuation notice or “ready” status at this time.

Fire exceeds 32,000 acres burned

The Elk Fire grew to 32,069 acres burned with no containment as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Additional air and ground resources arrived Tuesday to assist in fire control efforts.

“It’s important to note the effectiveness of air support is dependent on wind conditions and smoke coverage,” Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Jesse Ludikhuize said in a press release.

Residents in Dayton and Ranchester areas should expect to see a significant increase in emergency vehicles.

Highway 14 still closed

Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction remains closed, and all other closures from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to Forest Service roads — see below — remain in effect.

“We’re working diligently to minimize the impact on the community while keeping everyone informed,” Ludikhuize said. “Please continue to respect evacuation notices and obey all road closures. It is crucial to stay out of the fire area to allow emergency personnel to work without obstruction.”

Highway 14 closure will be continually evaluated and adjustments will be made as conditions allow. The road remains closed due to thick smoke, fire conditions and the need to ensure the safety of emergency responders.

Fire impacts one firefighter, six buildings

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., signifying critical fire weather conditions, including low humidity and high winds, which could exacerbate the fire.

Since the beginning of the fire, six non-primary residential structures have been destroyed, including barns, outhouses and other non-primary residential buildings. All affected property owners have been notified by emergency personnel.

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday, requiring transport to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where the person is currently receiving treatment.

Larger crew assumes management

Wyoming Type 3 Team transferred management of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Complex Incident Management Team 3 will host a public meeting Wednesday at Tongue River Middle School — relocated from Tongue River High School Wednesday at 11 a.m. due to growing evacuation concerns in Dayton — starting at 7 p.m.

The in-person meeting will be recorded and published later by the team, who will make themselves available to answer questions and address public concerns related to the fire.

The new incident management team assumed operational control Monday at 7 p.m., and all updates will come from that team. The group will establish a public contact number, to be shared soon, according to Ludikhuize.

No donations of food or supplies are needed for firefighters or emergency personnel at this time.

Students remain online Wednesday

Emergency management personnel contacted SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones at 12:15 a.m. and advised that students and staff at Tongue River High School only to go online Wednesday.

“I will continue to stay in touch as I get more information in the morning,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families. “Please continue to pray for our firefighters, emergency responders and all of the families impacted.”

Slack School is also closed.

Community support

Sheridan County YMCA will provide shower passes for anyone displaced by the Elk Fire. Check in with the front desk with your information and mention the fire relief effort. Additionally, while space allows, the Y is providing space for parking campers, but they do not have electricity hookups. To reserve a spot, call and ask for availability and fill out a form at the front desk to check in.

Those needing a place to take livestock or a place to stay in a camper may evacuate to the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. If you need a place to stay and you are evacuated, contact Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174. Emergency Management officials said staff will work with any resident that has pets to ensure they are also sheltered.

UPDATE: 5:15 a.m. Oct. 2

Due to the rapidly changing conditions of the Elk Fire, evacuation orders have been issued for Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman, and Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt.

In addition, the Town of Parkman residents and residents of north of Parkman, on both the east and west sides of Highway 345 up to the Montana state line are now under a pre-evacuation or, “ready,” notice. This does not include the Hersey Road area. Residents in the “ready” stage should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Emergency personnel have contacted all affected residents directly.

The Town of Dayton is not under a pre-evacuation notice or “ready” status at this time.

UPDATE: 12:38 a.m. Oct. 2

DAYTON — Because of worsening fire conditions near Dayton, Sheridan County School District 1 is being advised to have students and staff at Tongue River High School to stay online Oct. 2.

Emergency management personnel contacted SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones at 12:15 a.m. and advised that students and staff at TRHS only to go online Wednesday.

“I will continue to stay in touch as I get more information in the morning,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families. “Please continue to pray for our firefighters, emergency responders and all of the families impacted.”

Slack School is also closed. 

UPDATE: 11:45 p.m. Oct. 1

DAYTON — Evacuations have been ordered for all the residences on Pass Creek Road between East Pass Creek and Twin Creek Road and from the X bar X Ranch north to the state line. 

Authorities have contacted residents.

The ranch is located at 846 Pass Creek Road in Parkman.

.

UPDATE: 5 p.m. Oct. 1

DAYTON — Fire suppression efforts continue. The latest update includes additional acreage burned, a minor injury, a scheduled public meeting and Tongue River High School students returning to in-person instruction. 

Fire exceeds 32,000 acres burned

The Elk Fire grew to 32,069 acres burned with no containment as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Additional air and ground resources arrived Tuesday to assist in fire control efforts. 

“It’s important to note the effectiveness of air support is dependent on wind conditions and smoke coverage,” Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Jesse Ludikhuize said in a press release. 

Residents in Dayton and Ranchester areas should expect to see a significant increase in emergency vehicles. 

Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction remains closed, and all other closures from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to Forest Service roads — see below — remain in effect. 

“We’re working diligently to minimize the impact on the community while keeping everyone informed,” Ludikhuize said. “Please continue to respect evacuation notices and obey all road closures. It is crucial to stay out of the fire area to allow emergency personnel to work without obstruction.”

Highway 14 closure will be continually evaluated and adjustments will be made as conditions allow. The road remains closed due to thick smoke, fire conditions and the need to ensure the safety of emergency responders. 

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., signifying critical fire weather conditions, including low humidity and high winds, which could exacerbate the fire. 

Since the beginning of the fire, six non-primary residential structures have been destroyed, including barns, outhouses and other non-primary residential buildings. All affected property owners have been notified by emergency personnel. 

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday, requiring transport to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where the person is currently receiving treatment. 

Larger crew assumes management

Wyoming Type 3 Team transferred management of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Complex Incident Management Team 3 will host a public meeting Wednesday at Tongue River High School in Dayton, starting at 7 p.m.

The in-person meeting will be recorded and published later by the team, who will make themselves available to answer questions and address public concerns related to the fire. 

The new incident management team assumed operational control Monday at 7 p.m., and all updates will come from that team. The group will establish a public contact number, to be shared soon, according to Ludikhuize. 

No donations of food or supplies are needed for firefighters or emergency personnel at this time. 

Students return to in-person learning Wednesday

Tongue River High School students will return to the physical classroom Wednesday. 

“The situation has significantly improved near the high school and there is a presence of personnel and equipment (on the ground and in the air) in that area which has reduced the level of risk,” Sheridan County School District 1 superintendent Jeff Jones said in a Oct. 1 email to district parents. “Obviously we will continue to monitor the situation, literally by the minute. If things change, we will adjust as needed and that will be communicated out to all staff and families.”

As an extra precaution, several buses and drivers will be stationed at Tongue River High School during the school day. This will allow the district to evacuate the school in a matter of minutes if necessary. 

Sports practices at the high school will resume on the afternoon of Oct. 1. The district will monitor the air quality for outdoor activities, assuring students with breathing issues minimize exposure or be excused all together from practices outside if that is what they need. If you are a parent of a child in this situation, please reach out to your child’s principal or coach if you have questions or concerns. 

The Slack School will continue online schooling on Oct. 2.

Community support

Sheridan County YMCA will provide shower passes for anyone displaced by the Elk Fire. Check in with the front desk with your information and mention the fire relief effort. Additionally, while space allows, the Y is providing space for parking campers, but they do not have electricity hookups. To reserve a spot, call and ask for availability and fill out a form at the front desk to check in. 

The Defense Health Agency announced TRICARE beneficiaries in Sheridan County may receive emergency prescription refills now through Oct. 11, 2024, due to the Elk Fire.

To receive an emergency refill of prescription medications, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. If the bottle is unavailable or the label is damaged or missing, beneficiaries should contact Express Scripts, Inc., or their retail network pharmacy for assistance.

To find a network pharmacy, beneficiaries may call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303, or search the network pharmacy locator. If possible, visit the pharmacy where the prescription was filled.

UPDATE: 8:38 a.m. Oct. 1

PARKMAN — The Elk Fire continues to burn across the Bighorn mountain range stretching from Pass Creek Road to the Dayton area. 

Tongue River High School closed Tuesday

Sheridan County School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones said Tongue River High School will remain closed Tuesday due to the fire.

“There is going to be a lot of action with equipment and personnel moving in the Tongue River High School area, (so) emergency personnel has asked that we keep students and staff at TRHS out again (Tuesday),” Jones said.  All students from Tongue River High School will attend classes online. 

Travel restrictions and road closures

According to the latest report from the Bighorn National Forest Service, the latest routes to be restricted to local residence traffic are:

• Pass Creek Road, County Road 144 (from intersection of Highway 345 and Pass Creek Road)

• Twin Creek Road (Access off of Parkman)

• Smith Creek Road (Intersection of Highway 343 and Smith Creek Road)

• Tongue River Canyon Road

• U.S. Highway 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction (as of 7 a.m. Oct. 1, estimated opening time is unknown)

Evacuations remain in place along these routes. Law enforcement and fire personnel are asking people to respect the closures on Pass Creek Road along with other restrictions listed.

Due to the location, nature and direction of the Elk Fire, the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Incident Command are concerned for the safety of the traveling public, hunters, campers and residents of the Burgess Junction area, and are asking those individuals to evacuate the area. A Bighorn National Forest Closure Order is in place for firefighter and public safety.  The area closed is the area north of US Highway 14 and east of the border of the Medicine Wheel Ranger District and the Tongue Ranger District. 

Individuals with properties or personal belongings accessible from U.S. Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 14A will not be allowed access.

The Bighorn Forest Service and WYDOT are asking the public to avoid any unnecessary travel or parking in the area that may impede in the ongoing efforts to suppress this fire. 

The Wyoming Highway Patrol will be operating gates at Dayton and Burgess Junction. It is unknown how long the closure will last.  

Size and containment

Cooler temperatures helped firefighting efforts Monday.

According to a report from the Wyoming Type 3 Team Tuesday morning, the fire has burned approximately 25,085 acres and is 0% contained.

There are six hand crews, three engines, four heavy equipment, two Type 1 helicopters, one Type 2 helicopter, one Type 3 helicopter and two air attack battling the blaze.

Monday, firefighting operations focused on the northern and eastern sides of the fire with crews working to remove vegetation by use of hand tools and strategically putting fire on the ground to consume vegetation, or fuel, between structures and the fire. Air resources were used to assist ground operations and ensure for firefighter safety. Tuesday, firefighters will continue to build fire line around the fire, where it is safe to do so, with the assistance of air resources. The strategy being implemented on this fire is full suppression. Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority, and the tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s on the fire area Tuesday with winds changing to be out of the southwest and relative humidity around 18%. The shift in wind may cause the fire to be active in different areas than Monday.