Wyoming

Elk Fire update (as of 7:30 a.m. Oct. 5)

Published

1 year ago

October 5, 2024

Elk Fire update (as of 7:30 a.m. Oct. 5)

Fire activity caused night operations crews to pull out of structure protection work. Once it is safe, these crews will reengage, according to Bighorn National Forest officials.

The forecasted cold front has passed over the area and winds will start to moderate as we move to daybreak and throughout the day. Winds will continue to be out of the northwest and start to decrease from 15-30 mph Saturday morning to 15-25 mph into the evening. Relative humidity will remain in low 20 percentiles.

Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office issued additional evacuation notices at 3 and 6 a.m. Saturday.

Law enforcement will work to contact people in the new evacuation area. If the town of Dayton is asked to evacuate, a new alert will be sent, and the town siren will be activated. Authorities are actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as needed.

Residents are urged to stay informed by following official county and forest service communication channels and be prepared for any additional changes.

The Sheridan Press will also continue to provide comprehensive updates, compiling information from all government sources.

Areas that are now in “Go” or “Set” will see law enforcement presence and will be contacted by law enforcement. Areas in “Go” must evacuate immediately

(meaning evacuate immediately)

• Eatons’ Ranch

• Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman

• Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt

• Little Bighorn Canyon and Little Horn Road

• Areas north of Eaton Ranch Road

• South of Highway 14

• West of Beckton Road from Dayton, continuing south to the intersection of Beckton Road to Eatons’ Ranch Road

• Eagle Ridge Subdivision and homes directly east of U.S. Highway 14, heading up the mountain

SET

(Meaning prepare to evacuate, ensuring essential items are packed, evacuation routes are identified and you are ready to leave if the situation escalates)

• West of Rapid Creek Road

• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman, north of Amsden Road, and west of Wyoming Highway 343. This includes residences along Smith Creek Road and Columbus Creek Road.

• Town of Dayton

READY

(Meaning be prepared to evacuate if necessary)

• The area west of Bear Gulch Trail to Big Horn Road to Beaver Creek Road to Owl Creek Road and then directly north to Soldier Creek Road and then west to Beckton Road.

• South of Montana state line to Wyoming Highway 343, east to Interstate 90, and east to Barker Road. This includes residences in the Parkman Hills Subdivision and residences along the west side of Barker Road.

All road closures (with local and emergency personnel access only, unless otherwise noted)

• Beckton Hall Road at the intersection with Big Goose Road

• Big Horn Road at intersection of Beaver Creek Road

• Big Goose is closed at the intersection with Beckton Road

• Highway 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction (hard closure, no access)

• Pass Creek Road: County Road 144 from the intersection of Highway 345 and Pass Creek Road)

• Twin Creek Road (access off of Railway Avenue in Parkman)

• Smith Creek Road (intersection of Highway 343 and Smith Creek Road)

• Tongue Canyon Road (at the River Road)

• Beckton Road from Dayton to Big Goose is now closed including access from Soldier Creek Road to all except local residents.

• Little Horn Road south of Montana state line.

For past updates, click through additional pages.

Areas that are now in “Go” or “Set” will see law enforcement presence and will be contacted by law enforcement.

Go (meaning you will be evacuated from your residence)

• Eatons’ Ranch

• Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman

• Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt

• Little Bighorn Canyon and Little Horn Road

Set (meaning start the pre-evacuation process by organizing a plan and packing items)

• West of Beckton Road from Dayton, continuing south to the intersection of Beckton Road and Big Goose Road. This also includes the area west of Rapid Creek Road.

• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman, north of Amsden Road, and west of Wyoming Highway 343. This includes residences along Smith Creek Road and Columbus Creek Road.

Ready (meaning be prepared to evacuate if necessary)

• The area west of Bear Gulch Trail to Big Horn Road to Beaver Creek Road to Owl Creek Road and then directly north to Soldier Creek Road and then west to Beckton Road.

All road closures (with local and emergency personnel access only, unless otherwise noted)

• Beckton Hall Road at the intersection with Big Goose Road

• Big Horn Road at intersection of Beaver Creek Road

• Big Goose is closed at the intersection with Beckton Road

• Highway 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction (hard closure, no access)

• Pass Creek Road: County Road 144 from the intersection of Highway 345 and Pass Creek Road)

• Twin Creek Road (access off of Railway Avenue in Parkman)

• Smith Creek Road (intersection of Highway 343 and Smith Creek Road)

• Tongue Canyon Road (at the River Road)

• Beckton Road from Dayton to Big Goose is now closed including access from Soldier Creek Road to all except local residents.

•Little Horn Road south of Montana state line.

Friday evening fire activity update (10 p.m. Oct. 4)

The fire was measured at 55,618 acres at 6:15 p.m. The wind speed has increased at Burgess Junction; the night operations fire crews are continuing structure protection work.

There will be another community meeting at the Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.

Munsick begins fire relief fund

Ian Munsick — Sheridan native and popular country artist — started a GoFundMe fundraiser to benefit northern Wyoming fire departments.

Donations made to the Elk Fire Relief Fund will be funneled back to the following fire departments and local agencies to provide support needed to combat the fires and prevent further widespread damage.

Bureau of Indian Affairs – Division of Wildland Fire Management
Big Horn Fire Department
Clearmont Fire District
County Emergency Management
Dayton Fire Department
Goose Valley Fire Department
Ranchester Fire Department
Sheridan County Emergency Management
Sheridan Fire Department
Sheridan Area Rural Fire District
Story Volunteer Fire Department

“Rural Wyoming relies heavily on volunteer firefighters, and right now their resources are being spread thin,” Munsick said in his GoFundMe description.

Gov. Gordon provides state support for Elk Fire

CHEYENNE — Driven by high winds, the Elk Fire in Sheridan County has burned more than 32,000 acres as of Oct. 2 and continues to threaten the communities of Parkman and Dayton. The lightning-caused fire is being managed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3, with approximately 200 personnel currently assigned to the fire. U.S. 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction will remain closed indefinitely, as the fire has crossed the highway at mile marker 76.

Gov. Mark Gordon has authorized the deployment of the Wyoming National Guard to support the Elk Fire with on-site medevac resources for firefighter safety and use, if necessary.

Gordon is responding to the wildfires by directing all available state fire resources to be utilized for active fires and new starts. These include Wyoming State Forestry helicopter and helitack firefighters, two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), and Wyoming Smokebusters. Much of Wyoming is under Red Flag Warnings or Fire Weather Watch conditions , which could result in new fire starts and a need for initial attack resources.

The state is also cooperating with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management statewide, who are providing additional aviation resources, including Large Air Tankers (LATs), SEATS, helicopters and scooper planes. Ground resources, such as hotshot crews, Type 1 and 2 hand crews, and engines are also being directed for suppression response.

Additional information on the Elk Fire is available by visiting the InciWeb page or the Bighorn National Forest Facebook page.

Mule Deer Foundation raising funds for wildfire ravaged northern Wyoming

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) is stepping forward to help heal this wounded landscape. We are committed to raising $60,000 by Oct. 31 to restore the habitat that wildlife and ranchers alike depend on. The foundation’s efforts will focus on rebuilding essential fencing, providing seed for burned areas, and combating invasive species that threaten to take hold in this fragile environment, according to a release sent Oct. 4 from the foundation.

Friday afternoon fire activity update

The fire has been active on the west side Friday and is putting up heavy smoke as it is burning in heavy timber along the Dry Fork drainage, according to Bighorn National Forest officials. This portion of the fire is actively moving to both the southwest and northwest.

The northeastern side of the fire has shown little fire activity in most areas thus far and is not moving actively. The fire is burning patches of timber in the Tongue River Canyon; these areas are within the current fire perimeter. And resources are confident lines in this area will hold.

There has been an increase in activity west of Steamboat Point near Cutler Creek. Air resources are being used heavily to slow spread toward Highway 14 and structures in that area.

East of Steamboat Point, the fire is active south of Highway 14. Additional evacuations were ordered earlier in the day for the Eatons’ Ranch area. Airtankers have been dropping retardant throughout the day to slow fire spread in this area.

There is a hard closure to all traffic, to include fire resources in this area.

City takes actions to protect treatments plants

The city of Sheridan is deploying additional resources to protect the city’s water treatment plants during the ongoing Elk Fire. City staff has cleared extra vegetation around the Big Goose Water Treatment Plant and the intake site to reduce the fire risk. The U.S. Forest Service has also allocated extra resources to safeguard this facility, ensuring residents and Sheridan Area Water System (SAWS) customers continue to have a supply of clean water. Additionally, the Elk Fire Incident Command has prioritized the entire water system as an infrastructure protection priority. The Sheridan water intake supplies water to both the Big Goose and the Sheridan water treatment plants which in turn provides freshwater to residents of the City of Sheridan and to SAWS customers.

The Big Goose Water Intake Facility is expected to be able to continuously provide water to the Sheridan plant regardless of the Elk Fire’s impact.

The Big Goose Water Treatment Plant is situated in such a way as to minimize the risk of fire and can be operated remotely with redundant systems. Should it fail, the impact will be minimal as the Sheridan Water Treatment Plant has the ability to back-flow water as far as Beckton Hall Road. While the freshwater treatment system is not currently in danger, the City of Sheridan is taking precautions to ensure a calm and organized response in the event the facilities are impacted.

There is currently no requirement for residents to take any special measures, but the city recommends residents remain vigilant throughout the weekend and keep abreast of updates.

The City of Sheridan and all of its partner organizations are committed to providing updates as more information becomes available, ensuring citizens are always informed about the situation.

Full crews prepare for heavy activity Friday, into weekend

DAYTON — Fire activity on the Elk Fire in the Bighorn National Forest remained fairly quiet overnight Thursday, but in preparation for incoming weather — forecasted high winds and high temperatures Friday and Saturday — Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office issued increased evacuation statuses for a wider area in Sheridan County and fire crews prepped areas to preserve structures.

All hands on deck

The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 will utilize all 528 personnel to fight fires Friday and Saturday. The fire remains at 0% containment and consumed 51,115 acres thus far.

Red flag warning issued

A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Friday at noon until Saturday at 6 p.m. The forecast includes temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s and relative humidity in the teens. Winds are forecast to shift from the southeast to southwest and west during the day, gusting up to 30 mph in the afternoon. Overnight Friday, the winds are expected to shift to be out of the northwest and gusting up to 50 mph; this is associated with the passage of a cold front. With this anticipated hot, windy weather, it is likely there will be an increase to the size of the fire.

Crews prepare Thursday for weekend

After having previously used a bulldozer to create a fireline, fire crews utilized an Unmanned Aircraft System to implement a successful burnout operation west of the Horseshoe Subdivision Thursday, the incident management Friday morning update said. By intentionally placing fire on the ground between the fireline and the main fire, fire managers were able control the rate at which the vegetation was burned under calmer conditions. This tactic was utilized to lessen the chance of fire advancing upon structures in the future. Overnight Thursday, crews continued burning vegetation to increase the distance between structures and the southeast side of the main fire.

Friday, crews will continue preparing structures to be defensible from fire in the Little Bighorn Canyon. Along the eastern side of the fire, crews will continue to extinguish areas of heat along established firelines. This same work will be done in the vicinity of Thursday’s burning operation. Around the perimeter of the fire, crews will use a variety of structure preparation techniques, including the removal of vegetation near structures, constructing fireline and placing hose and sprinklers where possible.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time with a focus on only implementing plans and tactics that have a high probability of success.

New evacuation areas issued

Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office has placed a few new areas into new evacuation status to give residents time to plan ahead Thursday evening. A similar weather pattern occurred over the fire area last weekend, which caused erratic fire behavior.

New areas in “Set” include:

• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman, north of Amsden Road, and west of Wy HWY 343. This includes residences along Smith Creek Road and Columbus Creek Road.

• Eatons’ Ranch

New areas in “Ready” include:

• West of Beckton Road from Dayton, continuing south to the intersection of Beckton Road and Big Goose Road. This also includes the area west of Rapid Creek Road.

Additionally, Columbus Creek Road is closed at the intersection of Wyoming Highway 343 and Columbus Creek Road.

With an anticipated increase in fire activity due to critical fire weather today through Saturday, please keep all county and local roads clear. If you stop to look, you could stop first responders.

Air suppression efforts continue Friday

To slow fire spread, the incident management team on the Elk Fire is making full use of its air resources, to include airtankers, according to the Bighorn National Forest. There are varying sizes of airtankers used in wildland firefighting. The Elk Fire has had various resources attached: single engine airtankers, large airtankers, and very large airtankers.

Friday, multiple large airtankers were used to drop retardant on the Elk Fire. A large airtanker can hold up to 3,000 pounds and a very large airtanker can drop 9,400 lbs. A video shows airtankers dropping retardant in the area of Eatons’ Ranch and the Wolf Creek drainage, south of Dayton.

Additionally, there are 10 helicopters assigned to this fire and are being utilized to drop water in areas to assist firefighters on the ground; these air assets will be used as long as possible Friday.

Make room for emergency response on roads

Red Grade Road 26 in the Bighorn National Forest is being heavily used at this time. Please slow down and use caution, especially around blind corners, Bighorn National Forest Public Affairs Specialist Sara Evans Kirol said in a release Friday, Oct. 4.

If you decide to remove equipment such as campers from open areas on Forest, it is not recommended to park your property in another location on the Forest. The Elk Fire closure remains in effect and access is not being granted to anyone outside of firefighting and law enforcement personnel. Keep in mind that closure boundaries could change.

Red Grade Road 26 remains open at this time. However, it could be closed at a later point to support firefighting efforts on the Elk Fire. Consider taking alternative routes to the west and around to avoid Red Grade congestion.

For previous updates on the fire, click through additional pages below.

Sheriff issues new evacuation statuses

Working with the team managing the Elk Fire, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office has placed a few new areas into new evacuation status to give residents time to plan ahead. This has been done in advance of incoming weather with forecasted high winds to start tomorrow afternoon and continue into Saturday. A similar weather pattern occurred over the fire area last weekend, which caused erratic fire behavior.

New areas in “Set” include:

• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman, north of Amsden Road, and west of Wy HWY 343. This includes residences along Smith Creek Road and Columbus Creek Road.

• Eatons’ Ranch

New areas in “Ready” include:

• South of Montana state line to Wy HWY 343, east to I-90, and east to Barker Road. This includes residences in the Parkman Hills Subdivision and residences along the west side of Barker Road.

• West of Beckton Road from Dayton, continuing south to the intersection of Beckton Road and Big Goose Road. This also includes the area west of Rapid Creek Road.

Additionally, Columbus Creek Road is closed at the intersection of Wy HWY 343 and Columbus Creek Road.

Fire consumes nearly 50,000 acres

Updates from the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 Thursday morning showed large growth in the lightning-caused Elk Fire near Dayton Wednesday, now totaling 49,555 acres burned with 0% containment and 200 personnel working to preserve human life first and structures second.

Hot, windy weather is anticipated to start Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday, which will likely bring increased fire activity and spread.

The fire was less active overnight due to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity over the fire.

Access closed to community trailheads

The Poverty Flat, Bear Gulch East and Aspens Trailheads at the Sheridan Community Land Trust’s Red Grade Trails system are closed in accordance with the U.S. Forest Service – Bighorn National Forest closures related to the Elk Fire.

The land trust asks that community members not use the trails or the trailheads until the closure is lifted.

Base and Springs Trailhead at Red Grade Trails remain open as do all trails on the Soldier Ridge Trail System and The Green Room Trail.

Bighorn National Forest extends closure to north of Red Grade

The Big Horn National Forest has extended the forest closure and is now closed from Red Grade Road north. Stage 2 fire restrictions are now in effect in the national forest.

Sibley fire confirmed as part of Elk Fire

Complex Incident Management Team 3 officials confirmed fire at Sibley Lake and campground. Officials could not confirm start time or size, but confirmed that fire in the Sibley area is part of the larger Elk Fire.

The team is working on a larger fire update this afternoon.

All schools on the Tongue River side of district to be closed Oct. 3

Tongue River High School, elementary, middle school and Slack School will be closed Oct. 3 and there will be no virtual online expectation for schooling.

TRE and TRMS will dismiss as normal at 4 p.m. Oct. 2, TRHS was online and Slack was closed.

At 11 a.m. Oct. 2, Sheridan County School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones held a Zoom meeting with a large group of administrators and supervisory staff from across the district. In the meeting, Jones gathered information regarding the current status of the school district as a result of the fire.

“Not surprisingly, the impact is getting more and more difficult to manage. We have a large, growing number of staff members absent because they are either fighting the fire, needing to leave to get to Dayton so they can prepare for the potential of an evacuation, etc. We have many more staff members who, while they may still be in school, are incredibly shaken because in one way or another, they are greatly impacted by what is happening at this moment,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families.

All activities on the Tongue River side are canceled for the balance of the week and weekend. This includes practices as well as home and away games. Efforts will be made to reschedule the events.

“There are scenarios where we simply don’t have bus drivers, coaches, etc. We also don’t want students to be coming in and out of the parking lot at TRHS to get things to get to a practice or game,” Jones said in an email to district staff and families. “Finally, to be frank, it doesn’t make sense to be playing a ballgame out of town while your family’s home is in jeopardy of burning down. Every effort will be made to reschedule events.”

For families who need extra time to prepare things in Dayton, there will be staff at TRE and TRMS who are willing to stay longer after school with children. The district also has extra space near the bus barn in Ranchester if people need extra space for campers, Jones said in the email.

Town of Dayton in “ready” pre-evacuation order

Here are the most recent evacuation orders, as of 10:55 a.m. Wednesday:

The Sheridan County Sheriff has increased the evacuation status of both the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and the residences directly adjacent to the east of U.S. Highway 14, going up the mountain, to “Set.” If you are in either of these areas, please take the time now to gather up important things and be prepared to evacuate if notified.

The town of Dayton has been placed in a “Ready,” or pre-evacuation, status. If you live in the town of Dayton, take the time now to think about what you would want to take with you or where you might go if the Town of Dayton is put into a “Set” status.

• Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman

• Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt.

• Town of Parkman residents and residents of north of Parkman, on both the east and west sides of Highway 345 up to the Montana state line are now under a pre-evacuation or, “ready,” notice. This does not include the Hersey Road area.

Residents in the “ready” stage should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Emergency personnel have contacted all affected residents directly.

The town of Dayton is not under a pre-evacuation notice or “ready” status at this time.

Fire exceeds 32,000 acres burned

The Elk Fire grew to 32,069 acres burned with no containment as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Additional air and ground resources arrived Tuesday to assist in fire control efforts.

“It’s important to note the effectiveness of air support is dependent on wind conditions and smoke coverage,” Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Jesse Ludikhuize said in a press release.

Residents in Dayton and Ranchester areas should expect to see a significant increase in emergency vehicles.

Highway 14 still closed

Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction remains closed, and all other closures from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to Forest Service roads — see below — remain in effect.

“We’re working diligently to minimize the impact on the community while keeping everyone informed,” Ludikhuize said. “Please continue to respect evacuation notices and obey all road closures. It is crucial to stay out of the fire area to allow emergency personnel to work without obstruction.”

Highway 14 closure will be continually evaluated and adjustments will be made as conditions allow. The road remains closed due to thick smoke, fire conditions and the need to ensure the safety of emergency responders.

Fire impacts one firefighter, six buildings

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., signifying critical fire weather conditions, including low humidity and high winds, which could exacerbate the fire.

Since the beginning of the fire, six non-primary residential structures have been destroyed, including barns, outhouses and other non-primary residential buildings. All affected property owners have been notified by emergency personnel.

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday, requiring transport to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where the person is currently receiving treatment.

Larger crew assumes management

Wyoming Type 3 Team transferred management of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Complex Incident Management Team 3 will host a public meeting Wednesday at Tongue River Middle School — relocated from Tongue River High School Wednesday at 11 a.m. due to growing evacuation concerns in Dayton — starting at 7 p.m.

The in-person meeting will be recorded and published later by the team, who will make themselves available to answer questions and address public concerns related to the fire.

The new incident management team assumed operational control Monday at 7 p.m., and all updates will come from that team. The group will establish a public contact number, to be shared soon, according to Ludikhuize.

No donations of food or supplies are needed for firefighters or emergency personnel at this time.

Students remain online Wednesday

Emergency management personnel contacted SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones at 12:15 a.m. and advised that students and staff at Tongue River High School only to go online Wednesday.

“I will continue to stay in touch as I get more information in the morning,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families. “Please continue to pray for our firefighters, emergency responders and all of the families impacted.”

Slack School is also closed.

Community support

Sheridan County YMCA will provide shower passes for anyone displaced by the Elk Fire. Check in with the front desk with your information and mention the fire relief effort. Additionally, while space allows, the Y is providing space for parking campers, but they do not have electricity hookups. To reserve a spot, call and ask for availability and fill out a form at the front desk to check in.

Those needing a place to take livestock or a place to stay in a camper may evacuate to the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. If you need a place to stay and you are evacuated, contact Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174. Emergency Management officials said staff will work with any resident that has pets to ensure they are also sheltered.

UPDATE: 5:15 a.m. Oct. 2

Due to the rapidly changing conditions of the Elk Fire, evacuation orders have been issued for Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman, and Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt.

In addition, the Town of Parkman residents and residents of north of Parkman, on both the east and west sides of Highway 345 up to the Montana state line are now under a pre-evacuation or, “ready,” notice. This does not include the Hersey Road area. Residents in the “ready” stage should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Emergency personnel have contacted all affected residents directly.

The Town of Dayton is not under a pre-evacuation notice or “ready” status at this time.

UPDATE: 12:38 a.m. Oct. 2

DAYTON — Because of worsening fire conditions near Dayton, Sheridan County School District 1 is being advised to have students and staff at Tongue River High School to stay online Oct. 2.

Emergency management personnel contacted SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones at 12:15 a.m. and advised that students and staff at TRHS only to go online Wednesday.

Slack School is also closed.

UPDATE: 11:45 p.m. Oct. 1

DAYTON — Evacuations have been ordered for all the residences on Pass Creek Road between East Pass Creek and Twin Creek Road and from the X bar X Ranch north to the state line.

Authorities have contacted residents.

The ranch is located at 846 Pass Creek Road in Parkman.

UPDATE: 5 p.m. Oct. 1

DAYTON — Fire suppression efforts continue. The latest update includes additional acreage burned, a minor injury, a scheduled public meeting and Tongue River High School students returning to in-person instruction.

Fire exceeds 32,000 acres burned

The Elk Fire grew to 32,069 acres burned with no containment as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Additional air and ground resources arrived Tuesday to assist in fire control efforts.

Residents in Dayton and Ranchester areas should expect to see a significant increase in emergency vehicles.

Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction remains closed, and all other closures from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to Forest Service roads — see below — remain in effect.

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday, requiring transport to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where the person is currently receiving treatment.

Larger crew assumes management

Wyoming Type 3 Team transferred management of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Complex Incident Management Team 3 will host a public meeting Wednesday at Tongue River High School in Dayton, starting at 7 p.m.

The in-person meeting will be recorded and published later by the team, who will make themselves available to answer questions and address public concerns related to the fire.

No donations of food or supplies are needed for firefighters or emergency personnel at this time.

Students return to in-person learning Wednesday

Tongue River High School students will return to the physical classroom Wednesday.

“The situation has significantly improved near the high school and there is a presence of personnel and equipment (on the ground and in the air) in that area which has reduced the level of risk,” Sheridan County School District 1 superintendent Jeff Jones said in a Oct. 1 email to district parents. “Obviously we will continue to monitor the situation, literally by the minute. If things change, we will adjust as needed and that will be communicated out to all staff and families.”

As an extra precaution, several buses and drivers will be stationed at Tongue River High School during the school day. This will allow the district to evacuate the school in a matter of minutes if necessary.

Sports practices at the high school will resume on the afternoon of Oct. 1. The district will monitor the air quality for outdoor activities, assuring students with breathing issues minimize exposure or be excused all together from practices outside if that is what they need. If you are a parent of a child in this situation, please reach out to your child’s principal or coach if you have questions or concerns.

The Slack School will continue online schooling on Oct. 2.

Community support

The Defense Health Agency announced TRICARE beneficiaries in Sheridan County may receive emergency prescription refills now through Oct. 11, 2024, due to the Elk Fire.

To receive an emergency refill of prescription medications, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. If the bottle is unavailable or the label is damaged or missing, beneficiaries should contact Express Scripts, Inc., or their retail network pharmacy for assistance.

To find a network pharmacy, beneficiaries may call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303, or search the network pharmacy locator. If possible, visit the pharmacy where the prescription was filled.

UPDATE: 8:38 a.m. Oct. 1

PARKMAN — The Elk Fire continues to burn across the Bighorn mountain range stretching from Pass Creek Road to the Dayton area.

Tongue River High School closed Tuesday

Sheridan County School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones said Tongue River High School will remain closed Tuesday due to the fire.

“There is going to be a lot of action with equipment and personnel moving in the Tongue River High School area, (so) emergency personnel has asked that we keep students and staff at TRHS out again (Tuesday),” Jones said. All students from Tongue River High School will attend classes online.

Travel restrictions and road closures

According to the latest report from the Bighorn National Forest Service, the latest routes to be restricted to local residence traffic are:

• Pass Creek Road, County Road 144 (from intersection of Highway 345 and Pass Creek Road)

• Twin Creek Road (Access off of Parkman)

• Smith Creek Road (Intersection of Highway 343 and Smith Creek Road)

• Tongue River Canyon Road

• U.S. Highway 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction (as of 7 a.m. Oct. 1, estimated opening time is unknown)

Evacuations remain in place along these routes. Law enforcement and fire personnel are asking people to respect the closures on Pass Creek Road along with other restrictions listed.

Due to the location, nature and direction of the Elk Fire, the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Incident Command are concerned for the safety of the traveling public, hunters, campers and residents of the Burgess Junction area, and are asking those individuals to evacuate the area. A Bighorn National Forest Closure Order is in place for firefighter and public safety. The area closed is the area north of US Highway 14 and east of the border of the Medicine Wheel Ranger District and the Tongue Ranger District.

Individuals with properties or personal belongings accessible from U.S. Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 14A will not be allowed access.

The Bighorn Forest Service and WYDOT are asking the public to avoid any unnecessary travel or parking in the area that may impede in the ongoing efforts to suppress this fire.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol will be operating gates at Dayton and Burgess Junction. It is unknown how long the closure will last.

Size and containment

Cooler temperatures helped firefighting efforts Monday.

According to a report from the Wyoming Type 3 Team Tuesday morning, the fire has burned approximately 25,085 acres and is 0% contained.

There are six hand crews, three engines, four heavy equipment, two Type 1 helicopters, one Type 2 helicopter, one Type 3 helicopter and two air attack battling the blaze.

Monday, 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. Tuesday, 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 Tuesday 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 Monday.

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Wyoming

Big crowd sees CSU women’s basketball team thump Wyoming | Takeaways

Published

3 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

Big crowd.

Big rival.

Big win.

The Colorado State women’s basketball team checked all the boxes with a dominant 83-54 Border War victory over Wyoming on Feb. 7 at Moby Arena.

The win snaps a mini two-game losing skid for the Rams.

Here are takeaways from the game.

CSU lands the desired fast start

CSU coach Ryun Williams knew the big crowd could impact the start, with extra eyes and therefore extra pressure on the team.

Channeling that energy positively was going to be key.

“There is that overexcitement to where maybe you don’t play at your optimal level. You’ve got to get to that level and make it a basketball game,” Williams said in the days before the game. “Yeah, the juices are going to be flowing but you’ve got to get that thing calmed down in your head sooner rather than later and just do your job.”

CSU’s last two games created heightened importance on that quick start.

The Rams (18-6, 9-4 Mountain West) entered the Wyoming (8-15, 5-9 MW) game off back-to-back losses to Mountain West leaders San Diego State and UNLV. CSU scored 12 total first-quarter points in those games, including just three in front of a big “Education Day” crowd against San Diego State.

In this one? The Rams had an early 12-2 run to take control and had 24 points from five different scorers in the first 10 minutes.

CSU averaged just 47.5 points per game in those last two defeats and had 47 at half against Wyoming.

“We wanted to be very, very aggressive. We wanted to play to attack, play to win,” Williams said. “I thought we had a great mentality to start the game.”

The Rams handled the moment perfectly, starting fast and dominating throughout.

Brooke Carlson was dynamic, hitting three of her four 3-point attempts and pouring in a career-high 23 points while also adding four assists and two steals. Kloe Froebe hit three 3-pointers and scored 17 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists.

CSU shot 51% from the game and 54% (13-24) from 3-point range. There were four players in double figures and nine Rams scored.

CSU shows off four-quarter effort

One of the challenges for CSU in losses in league play has been one bad quarter changing a result.

For as big as the start to the game was, the beginning of the second half felt as important. Would CSU bury Wyoming or let it become a game?

No such concern. CSU started the second half fast by holding Wyoming scoreless for the first 4:22 of the third quarter as the Rams’ lead ballooned.

The Rams locked down defensively and held Wyoming to seven third-quarter points and scored 17 or more in each quarter.

“We’re learning that we’ve got to stay urgent and you’ve got to execute and do your job for four quarters,” Williams said. “The mentality never changed through four quarters.”

Wyoming star Malene Pedersen entered the game leading the Mountain West in scoring at 17 points per game, but the Rams limited her to 11 on 3-13 (23%) shooting.

Big crowd at Moby Arena sees CSU win

The rivalry game was tagged with a “Pack Moby” effort by CSU’s administration. The Rams were selling $1 tickets in an effort to sell out the arena.

Shortly before tip, the Rams announced a sellout crowd. With a wave of enthusiasm around women’s basketball sweeping the nation in recent years, this was a chance for CSU to perhaps land some new fans.

“It’s important that we provide that kind of atmosphere for our teams and for our community,” CSU athletic director John Weber said.

The crowd was lively from the start and the team responded with a quality performance.

“That’s a really cool thing. It’s neat for our kids. I think they deserve it,” Williams said. “The community has really supported us.”

CSU players were mobbed with young autograph seekers after the game and many were on the court long after the game signing for fans.

“It was really nice to see the community show out for us and for women’s sports. Being able to have them here meant a lot to us,” Froebe said.

Big week ahead for Colorado State

February is a packed month of key games for CSU. In a scheduling quirk, most of the most important and marquee Mountain West games for the Rams fell within about a month.

It’s when CSU faces most of the top contenders for the league, plus rivalry games against Wyoming.

The back-to-back losses to San Diego State and UNLV were the start of that stretch. This win over Wyoming could mark a key reset.

The Rams now have a challenging road week. CSU plays at San Diego State (Feb. 11) and New Mexico (Feb. 14) in the next week. Those two are responsible for two of CSU’s four league losses so far.

It’s a week that will have a huge impact on the Mountain West standings with the conference tournament (March 7-10) fast approaching.

Sports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.

This story has been updated with additional notes, quotes, context and a photo gallery.

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Wyoming

‘An unqualified insurrectionist’: outcry over Trump nominee in Wyoming

Published

15 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

‘An unqualified insurrectionist’: outcry over Trump nominee in Wyoming

A Republican former state lawmaker with no experience trying cases, a record of opposing LGBTQ+ rights, and who was outside the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection, is awaiting Senate confirmation to become the top federal prosecutor in Wyoming.

Donald Trump first nominated Darin Smith as Wyoming’s US attorney last year, and the judiciary committee advanced him in a party-line vote in January. Democrats have condemned Smith, saying he lacks the experience necessary for the job and threatens to impose a discriminatory approach to federal law enforcement in the state where gay college student Matthew Shepard’s 1998 murder galvanized the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

“Darin Smith is an unqualified insurrectionist with no experience in federal or criminal litigation. Not only does his lack of a resume disqualify him, there are serious doubts about his ability to fairly uphold the rule of law for all Americans,” said Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the judiciary committee.

Through a spokeswoman, Smith declined to comment.

Smith’s nomination is before senators as Trump presses on with efforts to use federal law enforcement agencies to seek revenge against his political enemies, a campaign in which US attorneys – the presidential appointees who lead civil and criminal prosecutions in the nation’s 94 federal judicial districts – have played a major role.

Last year, the president appointed his former personal lawyer Lindsey Halligan as interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, even though she had no experience as a prosecutor. Halligan swiftly brought charges against Letitia James, the New York attorney general, and James Comey, the former FBI director, both of whom Trump has publicly singled out for retribution.

A federal judge threw out those indictments and harshly criticized Halligan, who later left her position.

Senate Republicans have confirmed 31 US attorneys since Trump took office a year ago, after changing the chamber’s rules to overcome delay tactics from the Democratic minority. Trump initially nominated Smith in July and he assumed office the following month on an interim basis, after resigning a seat in the state senate seat he had been elected to the year prior.

Smith received the endorsement of the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation, with senator John Barrasso saying in a statement: “President Trump made a solid, conservative choice in nominating Darin. Darin’s experience in the Wyoming state senate and years of practicing law in Wyoming will serve him well.”

In written questions submitted to lawmakers on the Senate judiciary committee, Smith, who was admitted to the Wyoming bar in 2000, acknowledged that prior to taking the job of US attorney, he had never before appeared in court as part of a criminal or civil proceeding, questioned a witness before a grand jury or applied for a warrant.

Responding to a question that asked him to describe the “10 most significant litigated matters which you personally handled”, Smith replied: “My legal practice has emphasized counseling, planning, and transactional work aimed at avoiding litigation. As a result, I have not personally handled 10 significant litigated matters that proceeded to verdict, judgment, or final decision.”

Between 2018 and when he began as interim US attorney, Smith listed on his questionnaire that he held positions at the Family Research Council, a Washington DC-based group that advocates for conservative Christian policies.

He said he agreed with the organization’s opposition to same-sex marriage and its belief that homosexuality was “harmful”. He also told lawmakers that he disagreed with a 2020 US supreme court ruling that employers cannot discriminate against gay and transgender workers.

He was similarly critical of a bill introduced in Wyoming’s legislature in 2017 to ban employment discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, calling it a “Trojan horse to legislate morality”.

“It allowed government officials and entities funded by taxpayers to elevate the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals over the rights of the rest of the population,” he wrote. “Everyone should be treated equally, period.”

During his brief time in the state senate, he co-sponsored bills that would have allowed librarians to face charges for “promoting obscenity”, and prevented state employees from being required to call coworkers by their preferred pronouns. The former was voted down in a committee, while the latter became law.

“Darin Smith has spent his career obsessed with making life worse for LGBTQ+ people, opposing marriage equality, cosponsoring state legislation targeting transgender youth, and smearing LGBTQ+ people in public statements,” said David Stacy, vice-president of government affairs at LGBTQ+ rights group Human Rights Campaign.

“Just over two decades after Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in that same state, Wyoming deserves better than tired anti-LGBTQ+ hate at the helm of federal law enforcement.”

Smith told US senators he was on the grounds of the Capitol on January 6, but said he did not enter the building. He maintains that the election in which Trump lost his bid for a second consecutive term was affected by “imperfections”, and believes that the attack on the Capitol was set up by unnamed actors.

“From my vantage point, I thought it was apparent that certain individuals acted as agitators, intentionally misleading others and escalating tensions, which created conditions resembling entrapment,” he said in a questionnaire.

Asked whether he agreed with Trump’s pardons of rioters convicted of attacking police officers, Smith said: “I believe that our constitution gives every president the power to pardon any individual for offenses against the United States.”

Vermont’s Democratic senator Peter Welch accused Smith of “rewriting history about January 6”, and noted that Republicans rejected a previous US attorney nominee, Ed Martin, who was appointed to handle prosecutions in the District of Columbia, over his comments in support of rioters.

“He’s blaming the police officers for what the assailants did,” Welch said of Smith. “Every one of us, my view, should condemn that language. So, his lack of experience, his words in support of January 6 are disqualifying for him to serve as US attorney.”

A spokesman for Senate majority leader leader John Thune did not respond to a request for comment on when his nomination will be voted on by the full chamber.

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Wyoming

Jae Foundation Raises Mental Health Awareness Across High Schools In Wyoming – SweetwaterNOW

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

Jae Foundation Raises Mental Health Awareness Across High Schools In Wyoming – SweetwaterNOW

Julie Mackey speaks to the students at Black Butte High School about Jae BIng’s story during an event hosted by the Jae Foundation. SweetwaterNOW photo by James Riter.

SWEETWATER COUNTY — A nonprofit born from loss, friendship and a graveside promise brought its message of mental health awareness and suicide prevention to Sweetwater County this week, delivering cowboy boots and conversation to seniors at Black Butte High School.

The Jae Foundation centers its outreach around “Boot-Check Moments,” intentional check-ins prompted by cowboy boots meant to symbolize belonging, purpose and connection.

The program is rooted in the life of Jae Bing, a Pinedale native known for his love of cowboy boots, fishing and people. Jae died by suicide in 2016 at the age of 27. His longtime friend Jason started the foundation as a commitment to his friend that something good, amazing, and transformational would emerge from the darkness.

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At Jae’s funeral, Jason noticed two things that stayed with him, the diversity of people who came to mourn, regardless of faith or background, and the overwhelming number of cowboy boots worn in Jae’s honor.

After the burial, Jason returned alone to Jae’s grave, where he made a promise that something good would come from the tragedy.

That promise eventually became the Jae Foundation.

Growing up in Pinedale, Jason and Jae attended school, activities and celebrated milestones together. Jae, adopted from South Korea by the Bing family, stood out as a Korean cowboy in a predominantly white, rural town. Friends remember him for his charisma, humor and constant concern for others.

“From the outside, it looked like he was on top of the world,” said Wyoming Outreach Coordinator Julie Mackey, “but unfortunately, he was not doing okay.”

Jason last spoke with Jae days before his death. The news came through a phone call from his father on a Sunday morning. Jason later described that day as one of the hardest of his life.

The organization struggled to find its footing in its early years, including a period when little progress was made and the nonprofit’s bank account sat dormant. Momentum finally came years later during a visit to Pinedale’s Cowboy Shop, when Jason bought a friend his first pair of cowboy boots, a moment he described as the beginning of healing.

Today, the foundation’s High School Senior Boot Program has expanded across Wyoming. Every graduating senior at Black Butte High School, along with several early graduates, received a pair of boots during the event, funded through local fundraising, donations and community support.

“These are not just any boots, they’re a reminder that you are loved, valued, needed and that you belong here,” Mackey told the students.

The foundation’s presence reflects growing efforts to address youth mental health through community-based approaches, especially in Wyoming, which has long struggled with high suicide rates.

After students tried on their boots, they were asked to look around the room, a visual reminder that everyone’s boots were different, just as everyone’s story is different.

The foundation’s message is simple, boot-check others and don’t walk alone.

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