The calendar turns to August soon, a time when weather forecasts start using the words “haze” and “smoke” alongside meteorological terms like partly cloudy.
It’s wildfire season in the West, and Wyoming tends to live in the ash of its Western neighbors until the Equality State itself is battling its own wildfires.
Hundreds of residents in tiny Upton, Wyoming, on the border of Crook and Weston counties, were chased from their homes Monday as a fast-moving grassfire threatened subdivisions along Barton Road.
Just west of Gillette, the Campbell County Fire Department battled 50 mph winds whipping a grassfire into a frenzy that consumed mobile homes, campers and several pets over the weekend.
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Meanwhile, an innocent lightning strike in the heart of the Shoshone National Forest 11 days ago has ballooned into a 1,000-acre wildfire that briefly closed the east entrance to Yellowstone over the weekend.
The Clearwater Fire is shaping up to be a problem.
Burning in remote and rugged terrain, more than 100 firefighters are trying to keep it away from two popular campgrounds along Highway 14/16/20 between Cody and Yellowstone National Park.
Both have already been evacuated.
Clearwater Fire Threatens East Entrance
The Clearwater Fire is the state’s top priority at the moment. Hampering suppression efforts is the extreme difficulty in reaching the fire with equipment or personnel.
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The blaze is located on a ridgeline between Elk Fork and June Creek drainages about a mile south of Clearwater Campground and 11 miles west of Wapiti, Wyoming. Increased activity this week from high winds associated with approaching weather fronts is anticipated.
Monday, the fire made a significant run north up Elk Fork canyon and is being funneled straight toward the Highway 14/16/20 corridor. That prompted evacuations of Elk Fork campground, Wapiti campground, the Wapiti Ranger Station and area summer homes.
“The fire activity we saw [Monday] was prompted by winds up the canyon taking the fire toward the highway. Some of those gusts were around 45 mph,” said Kim Hemenway, spokesperson for a Wyoming Type III incident response team.
With firefighting operations and heavy smoke in the area, Wyoming Highway Patrol temporarily closed the highway from the East Entrance to Wapiti. That closure has been lifted and the highway is open. Motorists can expect to encounter numerous WYDOT electronic signs addressing smoke in the area and reduced visibility.
No structures have been lost. Firefighters were able to protect vehicles left at various corrals in Elk Fork. The fire also hasn’t crossed the highway to the north, and spread down the canyon to the south has been minimal.
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Aerial reconnaissance was flown Monday night. Preliminary results suggest the fire is at 1,047 acres. A Type 3 Wyoming team led by Jon Warder is in command of the incident with 101 assigned to the fire. A Type 1 helicopter is also being used to make water drops.
A change in weather systems is expected Thursday that could bring gusty and erratic winds with an increase in isolated thunderstorms.
Fire danger was upgraded to “Very High” in Yellowstone over the weekend prohibiting all campfires in the backcountry, including those in established fire rings.
An overview of the burn area of the Clearwater Fire in northwest Wyoming. (Inciweb)
The Clearwater Fire at night glows along the ridge. (Inciweb)
Firefighters on the Clearwater Fire try to keep flames off Highway 14/16/20. (Inciweb)
Latest infrared aerial show the perimeter of the Clearwater Fire at 1,047 acres. (Cowboy State Daily Staff)
Upton Residents Evacuated
Another red flag warning day in Weston County caused a scare Monday.
Extreme winds pushed a grassfire out of Crook County straight toward Upton to the southeast. Crook County Emergency Management warned its Weston County counterparts to evacuate residents in subdivisions along Barton Road.
Announcements were made on social media, radio and on alert broadcasting networks. Wyoming Highway Patrol, Weston County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Upton Fire Department went door to door to assist people leaving their homes.
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The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security was notified and shelters were opened at the Upton Community Center and Upton High School. American Red Cross of Wyoming was put on standby notice.
Weston County came together. Offers of assistance, resources and places to put horses were shared throughout the community from as far away as Newcastle.
Local firefighters were able to coax the Dogman Fire into an area that was blade-lined (cleared), where it ran out of fuel. Affected residents were cleared to return to their homes by 10 p.m.
Several Structures Lost Near Gillette
In Campbell County, a handful of people were left without homes to return to after erratic winds shifted direction Saturday and thrust a grassfire onto Peaceful Valley Drive just west of Gillette.
Several structures, including two homes, and vehicles were completely consumed in the blaze believed to have been started by a downed powerline. Area residents joined Campbell County firefighters in trying to contain the wildfire.
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Dozens of pets, horses, goats, chickens and other animals were saved, but some dogs were reported killed.
County fire officials praised volunteers who came alongside their efforts with everything from heavy equipment to garden hoses.
Willie and Carol McPheeters were among those displaced by the fire. They helped their neighbors move cars, pets and belongings until they couldn’t. One final gust sent flames straight at their home. They barely made it away only to watch it go up in smoke.
“It left them with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” said close friend Dora Conzelman, who is organizing a financial recovery effort for the McPheeters on GoFundMe.
The following day, the Beaver Creek Fire off Napier Road southwest of Gillette was another grassfire that pushed its way across open farm and rangeland.
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State Sen. Eric Barlow was seen lending a hand on the Beaver Creek incident, dousing hotspots with a water tank off the back of a rusty Chevy pickup. A video by Aaron Layman shows a slurry bomber laying down fire retardant as Barlow looked on in the foreground.
Campbell County Fire Marshal Stuart Burnham confirmed “some air support” in both the Peaceful Valley Road and Napier Road fires.
“We’ve had a really busy weekend and are now looking at another week of red flag warnings. We just hope for the best and for people to me smart,” Burnham said.
Several homes and structures bunred in a grass fire near Peaceful Valley Drive in Campbell County. (GoFundMe)
Firefighters work to contain a wildfire near Upton, Wyoming. (Courtesy Photo)
The Jack Creek Fire is located on this map. (Cowboy State Daily Staff)
Jack Creek
The Medicine Bow National Forest is dealing with the Jack Creek Fire burning 20 acres about 20 miles southwest of Saratoga. The wildfire was first spotted Monday afternoon around 5:19 p.m. Its cause has not yet been determined.
Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken asked travel in the Joe’s Park and Jack Creek area, popular with campers and hikers, be avoided for the time being.
No structures have been lost or damaged. The incident is being handled by Carbon County firefighters with assistance from the BLM Rawlins Field Office and resources from the Medicine Bow National Forest.
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Five potential fires in the area have been detected by NOAA radar. They could be spotting as a result of the Jack Creek Fire.
The Mowry Peak Fire burned in the same general north Sierra Madre area in 2020.
Contact Jake Nichols at jake@cowboystatedaily.com
Jake Nichols can be reached at jake@cowboystatedaily.com.
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional appraisal services to evaluate concession facilities at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
These appraisals are mandated by 2026 Senate Enrolled Act 27, Section 335, which requires appraisals of the “capital investment” and “ongoing concern” for the businesses known as the Star Plunge and the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.
Qualified professional appraisers are encouraged to review the full requirements. Proposals must be submitted through the State’s Public Purchase online bidding system by 2:00 p.m., May 18, 2026. To view the full RFP (Number 0270-M), please visit https://www.publicpurchase.com/gems/wyominggsd,wy/buyer/public/home.
For additional information, contact Wyoming State Parks’ Visitor Services Manager Stephanie Dillmon at (307) 777-5734 or by email at Stephanie.Dillmon2@wyo.gov or learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
