Elk Fire update: Oct 1

The Elk fire is burning at 0% containment approximately 6 miles northwest of Dayton, Wy. Caused by lightning on Friday, Sept. 27, the fire has grown to encompass 25,085 acres as of the morning of Tuesday Oct. 1.

Wyoming Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Matt Weakland currently has 6 Hand Crews, 3 Engines, 4 Heavy Equipment, 2 type 1 Helicopters, 1 type 2 Helicopter, 1 type 3 Helicopter, 2 air attack, and air tankers as needed battling the blaze. Additional resources have been ordered.

The Bighorn National Forest has reported that as of the morning of Tuesday Oct. 1, US Highway 14 remains closed from Dayton to Burgess Junction. Additionally, Sheridan County has closed Pass Creek Road, Twin Creek, Smith Creek Road, and Tongue River Canyon Road. 

Evacuations remain in place; please contact the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office at 307-672-3455 or Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174 for more information.

Management of the Elk Fire will transition from the Wyoming Type 3 Team to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 this evening. Complex Incident Management teams are brought into incidents to provide additional command and control capabilities to assist local units and communities during incidents such as the Elk Fire.

According to the BNF, yesterday, 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.

Today, 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 today 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 yesterday.

It is expected that the fire will continue to put up a smoke column, please check the AirNow website at https://www.airnow.gov/ to monitor smoke movement.