News
Freeze Out Fire Contained, Temporary Closure Order Lifted
Officials with the Bighorn National Forest have announced that the ten-acre Freeze Out Fire, near Freeze Out Point of Forest System Road 201, has been 100 percent contained. Firefighters will continue to monitor the incident for any hotspots or flare ups. The temporary closure order that was put in place last week for the Freeze out area has been lifted.
The lightning caused fire that was detected Wednesday, August 19, burned in lodgepole pine and spruce mixed forest. No injuries were reported, and the fire personnel are thankful for logistical support from local businesses.
Jeremy Jones
August 26, 2020 at 7:39 pm
Well what really needs to be discussed is the sheer amount of Camper RV squatting that’s going on on our public lands and our national forest is ridiculous. Any given weekday or weekend the amount of people in attendance at their campers in the forest is probably less than 90% which is a big problem for our lands! I think there needs to be a new law enforced if you’re not at your campsite every other day you have to remove your camper and just moving it to another camp site isn’t going to cut it anymore there needs to be an application process if this is how it’s going to be. Go ahead comment Community, let’s see what you all have to say.
Ezra Petersen
August 27, 2020 at 9:57 pm
If you live in Sheridan County why do you care where people camp there? Sheridan is a so called mountain town, so it’s just a short drive to the said mountains. So if it’s just a short drive why do you want to camp there? Staying an hour from my house doesn’t appeal to me, what’s the point? Dragging the camper up a steep grade burning up brakes on the way down, why when I can sleep in my on bed? There’s no reason to camp in the Big Horn national forest if you live around here.
Sam
August 31, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Well there you go! I guess the rest of us are just nuts!
David
August 27, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Be careful when you ask for an application process. You will end up losing everything that we all love about the Bighorns.
Bill Rathburn
August 27, 2020 at 2:12 pm
I agree that changes are needed as the demand for camping is increasing, especially this year. Right now everything is so random, forest officials have to make two trips to enforce the 14 day limit, one to see the camper, and one to go back and tag it. Sometimes license plates are removed and the camper can’t be identified. I would suggest the forest service needs to issue a 14 day camping permit with specified days which would be hung in the window of the camper requiring only one visit. A new permit would have to be issued for each 14 day period. An area could be included on the permit and it could be with or without a fee. The problem is the local forest service would probably not be able to make this dramatic change without Washington guidance.
George B
August 27, 2020 at 6:42 pm
I totally agree with Jeremy. Enforcement on occupancy, which means exactly what it says, should be as in the improved campgrounds. This would stop most of the “squatting” that goes on. Enforcement is the sticker, but whoever patrols could cruise their areas and seeing unit(s) unoccupied a second day could have that unit removed. Sure it’s convenient to spot a unit and just visit on a couple weekends, then squat somewhere else and repeat all summer. But no one has a deed on the spot they choose, and anyone else wanting to camp can just hope they might find a spot. For over 20 years my family has traveled from CA, AZ, WI, SD or wherever they were at the time and we’ve had a reunion on the mountain for 10 days or so, but we have “occupied” the site, never just parked and disappeared after a day or two, leaving our units unoccupied. In my opinion squatters are selfish and inconsiderate. Dispersed camping is a real deal, not allowed in forests in some states. It’s a great way to enjoy our beautiful Big Horns, but if continued to be abused could eventually be shut off. Let’s not push it to that end.