Elk Fire Update: 7:15pm 10-15-24

Elk Fire Update on Strategic Firing Operations – October 15:

Strategic firing operations on the Elk Fire have been a crucial tool to reduce the risk to the surrounding communities. These ignitions have included the use of hand ignitions on the ground and aerial ignitions from drones and helicopters, the operations have created seven miles of fireline running from the Big Goose Water Intake Facility, south to Red Grade Road in an effort to protect communities potentially threatened by the fire.

While there is no current plan to do additional strategic firing operations, fire managers are prepared to do so off of Red Grade Road, if necessary, to slow or stop the fire’s movement to the south. Firefighting crews and heavy machinery operators have worked tirelessly to create defensible space along the road, which runs east-to-west and up steep, rugged terrain.

Northern Bighorn Mountains-
514 PM MDT Tue Oct 15 2024

WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…

WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Areas of smoke. Highs around 60. South winds 10 to 20 mph.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of rain overnight. Colder. Lows in the lower 30s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

THURSDAY…Much colder. Rain in the morning. Snow late in the morning, then snow likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s. North winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

THURSDAY NIGHT…Snow. Accumulations possible. Lows in the mid 20s. North winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

FRIDAY…Snow likely in the morning, then chance of snow in the afternoon. Accumulations possible. Highs in the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the evening. Lows in the lower 20s.