Wyoming seeing fewer, but larger fires
CASPER — On Saturday, the National Interagency Fire Center was reporting on five wildfires in Wyoming, including the 174,691-acre House Draw Fire in Johnson County, the 130,000-acre Remington Fire spanning the Montana-Wyoming line in Sheridan County, 1,966-acre Clearwater Fire in the Shoshone National Forest near Cody, and the 103,000-acre Fish Creek and 780- acre Leeds Creek fires in Bridger-Teton National Forest, which was reported to be 75 percent contained.
In addition, Gov. Mark Gordon named two additional Campbell County blazes in a prepared statement Friday afternoon: the Flat Rock Fire, which covers 45,000 acres, and the Constitution Fire, which covers 20,000 acres.
Gordon said the state is focused on the preservation of life, property and containment.
“Confronting fires of this size and battling against Mother Nature’s forces takes significant dedication from those on the frontlines. Thank you to all who are fighting these fires – both volunteer and full-time firefighters – you are protecting our livelihoods, homes, and landscapes,” Gordon said. “Jennie and I send our prayers to everyone impacted.”
According to the statement, fire crews are using extensive ground and aerial resources to attack each of these fires, slowing their growth and protecting threatened structures.
Gordon is urging Wyoming residents near active wildfires to monitor the fire’s status through local communication channels, follow all emergency guidance, stay clear of the fire to allow firefighters to safely access and suppress the fires.
The state has deployed Wyoming State Forestry helicopter and helitack firefighters, two single-engine air tankers, the Wyoming Smokebusters and numerous state staff providing operational and administrative support.
The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are also providing additional air resources, including tankers and scooper planes.
“On the ground, Wyoming is coordinating with all local fire districts and emergency personnel, state, federal and county engines, county and private dozers and blades, all working these fires on the frontline protecting their communities,” according to the statement.
Wyoming is also relying on state resources from other western states and additional federal resources from across the nation.
So far, according to Gordon’s release, the state has not activated the National Guard for the currently burning fires.
The guard did assist with the Pleasant Valley Fire that burned near Camp Guernsey in early August. Gordon’s statement attributed the guard’s limited role this season “to federal restrictions, all federal, state, and county firefighting resources must be exhausted before National Guard firefighting resources can be requested.”
“Currently, Wyoming is experiencing an average number of wildfires but an above average amount of acres burned,” the statement reads.
As of Friday, Wyoming has seen 522 wildfires that have burned 327,700 acres.
This story was published on August 25, 2024.