Elk Fire containment remains steady

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The Elk Fire continues to sit at 96,244 acres and 48% containment, with 549 personnel continuing to fight the lightning-caused fire.

As the weather warms back up, pockets of smoke will become visible inside the fire area. Fire managers are aware of these hotspots and will take action as needed.

Most of the heat will likely come from the heavy down and dead fuels on the ground, which should not be a cause for alarm.

Remnants of snow remain in some of the shaded areas and northern facing slopes; however, a gradual drying pattern continues. Fire personnel were busy Sunday doing prep work to make potential firelines more defensible and repairing previous suppression lines.

Division A firefighters will continue to mop up and rehab firelines on the northern part of the fire.  Division Z Crews are looking for opportunities to close any fireline gaps in the Red Canyon area. A road grader worked yesterday on suppression repair of dozer lines.

The ground dried out sufficiently to begin suppression repair work. While doing this work in the interior of the fire, a couple of logs flared up as they were turned over by the dozer. Crews promptly suppressed the hotspot. Suppression repair continued along the eastern edge of the fire.

Division H crews are focusing on the 26, or Red Grade Road, prepping it to use as an indirect fireline to its junction with the 16 Road. They will prep that road to its junction with Highway 14. This work includes removing brush and other fuels by limbing trees and removing understory vegetation to eliminate small ladder fuels. This will assist with defending firelines in the event fire activity increases.

Fire supervisors are assessing the road system for a potential indirect fireline north of Burgess Junction to protect the WYDOT compound and the Forest Service Visitor Center and Work Center. A structure protection plan is in place.

This story was published on October 21, 2024.