Wildfires in national forests have burned more than 40,000 acres combined

GILLETTE (WNE) — The smoke that’s been in the Gillette air this week is coming from a couple of wildfires to the west of Campbell County.

The Elk Fire and Pack Trail Fire, which have burned more than 40,000 combined acres, are responsible for the smoke, according to the Campbell County Fire Department. Both fires are currently 0% contained and have prompted evacuation notices in those areas.

The Pack Trail Fire, which started Sept. 15 in the Bridger-Teton National Forest has burned 18,525 acres.

And the Elk Fire, which was reported near Riley Point and West Pass in the Bighorn National Forest Sept. 27, was caused by lightning. It had grown to 6,312 acres the morning of Sept. 29, and as of Wednesday morning, it’s burned an estimated 32,096 acres.

US Highway 14 remains closed from Dayton to Burgess Junction due to this fire, and evacuation notices have been sent out for certain parts of Sheridan County.

The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed management of the Elk Fire Tuesday night. At about 10 p.m. Tuesday, the Campbell County Fire Department sent resources out to this fire.

A red flag warning was issued Wednesday with temperatures expected to be in the low 70s in the area of the Elk Fire, with winds shifting from west to northwest in the afternoon and gusting to 25 mph.

Wednesday morning, the Sheridan County Sheriff increased the evacuation status of both the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and the residences directly adjacent to the east of Highway 14, to “Set,” meaning residents in this area must be prepared to evacuate if notified. And the town of Dayton was placed in a “Ready” status. An evacuation center was set up at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds.

This story was published on October 2, 2024.