BNF Supervisor and IMT 3 Commander discuss fire and next steps

Appearing with Sheridan County Commissioner Christi Haswell and Commission Chair Nick Siddle, Bighorn National Forest Supervisor Andrew Johnson and Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 Commander Casey Cheesbrough spoke on the upcoming transfer of the Elk Fire to a Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 1.

According to Johnson, Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Teams are multi-agency teams made up of people from all levels of government agencies. Federal agencies such as Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service as well as state agencies such as the Forestry Division and county departments all have representation on the team. Many are volunteers who have fought large fires and worked other natural disasters. 

The teams are overseen by The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group. 

A. Johnson

Initial reports of smoke were reported on Sept. 27. After an independent fire investigator was later able to analyze the evidence, Johnson and his team believe the fire was started by a lightning strike. 

A. Johnson

Johnson said initially the blaze was localized in an old lodge pole stand that contained a high amount of downed timber in rough terrain. Teams dumped large amounts of fire retardant but the wind worked against them. 

A. Johnson

On the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 1, Cheesbrough and the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 were on site and assigned command of the fire. 

Once Cheesbrough was on the ground with the team, they assessed the risks to the surrounding communities and made protection and information top priorities. 

C. Cheesbrough

For 20 days teams have battled the blaze, attacking hotspots, digging fireline, preparing communities and outlining buildings, safeguarding cabins, preparing and presenting briefings and holding community meetings. 

As mother nature finally cuts a break to the region, the responsibility of the Elk Fire will once again be turned over to Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 1 on the evening of Friday, Oct. 18. 

That incoming team still has a lot of work to accomplish, according to Johnson. 

A. Johnson

As Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 prepares to leave the area, grateful Sheridan and Johnson County residents say ‘thank you’ to everyone who has risked their lives battling the largest fire in the Bighorn National Forest’s recorded history.