Tongue River And Dayton Firefighters Help Battle Wildfire Near Wyola, Montana

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 15, 2026, the Tongue River Fire District (TRFD) and Dayton Fire Department were dispatched to assist Big Horn County, Montana, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Fire with a rapidly growing wildfire near the town of Wyola, Montana.

The fire, reported at approximately 2:40 p.m., was located on Little Horn Road, roughly two miles west of Wyola.

The grass fire was making a hard push to the northeast, directly threatening the community of Wyola.

At the time of the initial request for mutual aid, the fire had grown to more than 80 acres with acreage continuing to increase.

BIA Fire requested at least two Type 6 engines and a structure protection unit to respond.

TRFD and Dayton Fire answered the call, deploying brush trucks, water tenders, and structure trucks to provide both wildland suppression and structural defense for homes and property in the fire’s path.

“When our neighbors call, we answer. That’s what mutual aid is all about,” said Tongue River Fire District Chief Jeff Barron. “With conditions driving this fire hard toward Wyola, our priority was getting resources on scene as fast as possible to protect lives and homes. Our crews worked alongside BIA Fire and Dayton Fire to establish defensible lines and provide structure protection where it was needed most. I’m proud of the coordinated response from all agencies involved.”

The mutual aid response highlights the ongoing cooperation between fire agencies across county and state lines in the region.

Winter grass fires, while less common, can spread rapidly under dry and windy conditions, posing significant threats to rural communities.

The response also underscores the critical role that small, rural fire districts play in protecting not only their own communities but their neighbors as well.

The Tongue River Fire District, like many volunteer and rural fire agencies across Wyoming, operates on a limited budget while covering vast territory and responding to incidents that cross county and state lines.

Despite these constraints, TRFD consistently answers the call when mutual aid is requested.

“Our small rural fire districts do incredible work with very limited resources,” Chief Barron added. “We sent apparatus and personnel across county and state lines to protect lives and homes on a shoestring budget. We do it because it’s the right thing to do, but our legislators should take into consideration this legislative session just how much these small districts contribute to public safety across Wyoming. Adequate funding for rural fire districts isn’t just a local issue—it’s a matter of statewide preparedness.”

The Tongue River Fire District reminds residents to maintain defensible space around structures and to report any signs of wildfire immediately by calling 911.