Wyoming
Dayton residents prepare for evacuation as Elk fire grows
DAYTON, Wyo. — The Elk fire in northern Wyoming continues to burn across the Bighorn mountains. Early Saturday morning, residents in Dayton were asked to be ready to evacuate at any moment, as the winds are pushing the fire southwest.
With winds over 60 mph, at about 1 am Saturday morning, the Elk fire reached over 62,00 acres. Residents in Dayton have moved from a “Ready” evacuation status, to a “Set” evacuation status, meaning they need to be ready to evacuate.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
“This one… It just got big so quick… and the winds are not in our favor, by any means,” says Rhianna Miller, a mother and Dayton resident.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
Miller says she used to live in Florida, and would often experience hurricanes, but says this wildfire takes the cake for natural disasters she’s experienced.
“It’s one thing to prepare for a hurricane, ‘cuz you know it’s coming. But, this hands down has to be the most terrifying,” Miller said.
The reason the Elk fire has been so destructive, according to Sheridan County officials, is because of the high winds and timber in the Bighorn mountains. Where most wildfires burn grass, the Elk fire is burning trees.
Mike De Fries
“So (grass fires) can be very fast moving, but if… the wind slows down, they’ll slow down, and we can get ahead and really cut that off. Well, when it’s in a different sort of fuel type, like very heavy timber, it’s going to take a lot longer for that fuel type to be consumed,” said Kristie Thompson, the Public Information Officer for the Elk fire.
What may be most unfortunate for residents is the fact that, because of these high winds and timber, Elk could burn for weeks.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
“So, as long as it’s held at bay, and doesn’t come closer to town, I would like to go home,” said Miller.
Many Wyoming residents are hoping to go home, as many areas have already evacuated, including: South Highway 14, west of Beckon Road, and Eaton Ranch Road. In Montana, some Bighorn County residents are preparing for evacuation, as well.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
“(These fires) are very dynamic, very fluid. We’re constantly looking at that with the Incident Management Team, the operations, and coming up with a plan. That’s our primary goal, to make sure that the public is safe, the firefighters are safe. So when we’re seeing the fire move, and the activity change, we are constantly looking at that, and determining where we need to set evacuation notices,” said Levi Dominguez, the Sheridan County Sheriff.
As of Saturday afternoon, the fire is zero percent contained, many evacuations are in order, and heavy winds continue to spread across the region. Because of that, there is no way of knowing when Elk fire is to end.
“Until the snow comes, we will likely be seeing smoke,” says Thompson.
Wyoming
Column:FFA, 4-H programs build future for Wyoming agriculture
Wyoming
Wyoming Gov. Gordon on tariffs, energy and environmental stewardship
Geoff Bennett:
President Donald Trump welcomed both Democratic and Republican governors to the White House this morning for a bipartisan meeting.
As that gathering was under way, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its major ruling on tariffs, a decision that could affect a number of states, including Wyoming, where trade and energy production play an important role in the state’s economy.
Wyoming’s Republican Governor Mark Gordon attended the morning’s gathering of governors, and joins us now.
Thanks for being here.
Gov. Mark Gordon (R-WY):
Wonderful to be here. Thanks so much.
Geoff Bennett:
I want to start with trade, since the Supreme Court, as you know, struck down the administration’s tariffs.
Well, how does that decision change the outlook for Wyoming producers and exporters, especially ranchers, energy companies, for instance, that rely on global markets?
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Well, I think that’s a good question.
What I would say is that we had already started some work with Japan and other countries in Asia to talk about getting our natural gas off the West Coast, be able to get our coal off the West Coast. It’s not really clear to us exactly how this trade decision will change that.
I think Japan, for example, was very high — Governor Lujan Grisham and I were in Japan last year, and they were very high on the notion of being able to buy American energy. We hope this continues, and that trade deficit is able to be decreased.
Geoff Bennett:
Well, what are you hearing from industry in your state?
Gov. Mark Gordon:
We were all beginning to adjust to it.
Geoff Bennett:
Right.
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Our ability to — first off, beef is a big part of our economy. Our concerns were domestic consumers. The market has been really quite good.
As far as energy is concerned, our interest is being able to get that offshore. We have tremendous amounts of energy, and we’re really looking at A.I. as being a boon to us. So we’re going to adapt kind of however it comes best for us.
Right now, it’s a little hard to know if it’s going to change our manufacturing, any of that stuff.
Geoff Bennett:
On energy, President Trump pledged to expand domestic energy production. What specifically has the administration delivered for Wyoming, and where do you still want action?
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Well, I think we’re very excited about this administration, because we are not constraining what we can produce.
So we have — Wyoming’s a powerhouse. We have tremendous amounts of fossil fuel. We have led the nation on carbon capture and other things that can make sure that we can both address climate issues and produce more energy, energy that’s available and can be produced easily. We have tremendous resources of wind and solar.
And then we have also built up our nuclear industry. TerraPower and BWXT are both doing work in Wyoming now. So we’re very excited about this administration kind of opening that up. There’s those legacy pieces that we’re working through. The last administration had put some constraints on some of our ability to develop, and we’re hoping that those can be done away with fairly quickly.
Geoff Bennett:
Let’s talk about that, because there’s news on environmental regulation today too. The administration announced it’s rolling back some clean air regulations for power plants, including limits on mercury and hazardous air toxins.
Wyoming has taken steps to regulate methane and wildlife conservation. So how do you balance environmental stewardship with economic competitiveness?
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Well, I think one of the most important things for Wyoming has been, if we do it locally, we have stakeholder engagement. The people that work in the energy business are also hunters. They love the outdoors. They love taking their family fishing.
So they care a lot about what we’re able to do, which is why we have tried to balance how we develop our energy in a way that preserves our migratory game pathways, makes sure that our sage grass populations are protected.
And the state has done that. And it has done it very successfully. I think, when we look at what we can do, as opposed to telling us what we can’t do, and we say we want to balance environmental protection with development, we don’t want to hold back the energy this nation needs, I think you look at the people who can solve those problems on the ground, and this administration has allowed us to do that.
Geoff Bennett:
Why do you think this has been controversial at the federal level, where it seems like you found a strategy for success in the state level?
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Yes, I — that’s a good question.
You look at the results that we have and, generally speaking, people are saying, gosh, that’s working with sage grass, that’s working with migratory game animals. There may be just this notion that Washington can cure everything. If we do it here, we can make it happen elsewhere.
But the real resistance I have to that is that we have private property interspaced with state and federal lands. And when you try to impose the federal will on that, you don’t have stakeholder engagement, you don’t have stakeholder belief in the outcome, and that’s the difference.
Geoff Bennett:
Wyoming is one of the most reliably Republican states in the country. Does that free you up to govern pragmatically?
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Yes, I think it does.
I think what Wyoming is really focused on is sensible solutions to making sure that we can still power our nation. We were the nation’s first national park. that’s deep in our DNA. And so I think what it has given us is the ability to kind of work carefully with property owners and others to find the best solutions.
We have worked also with Democrat administrations as well. And I think one of the friendships that I treasure most is my relationship with Governor Lujan Grisham. We both are energy states. We are not going to agree on everything, but we realize that together we can probably do a better job of representing what’s important to America, if we do work together.
Geoff Bennett:
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, thanks for coming in.
Gov. Mark Gordon:
Thanks so much.
Wyoming
PHOTOS: Ian Munsick Delivers Authentic Western Country in Casper on the Eagle Flies Free tour
Wyoming-born Ian Munsick brought the spirit of the open range to the stage, blending modern country with Western, folk, and bluegrass influences.
Munsick has a strong Wyoming connection, having performed in Casper at the 5150′ Festival in 2022, breaking records for the event. He returned to Casper for The Country & WESTern Tour at the Ford Wyoming Center on October 5, 2024, and again on February 19, 2026, for his Eagle Flies Free tour, sharing the stage with guests Jake Worthington, and Tyler Nance.
Raised on a Sheridan ranch and now based in Nashville, the 29-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist has earned acclaim for hits like “Long Live Cowgirls” and “Horses Are Faster”, as well as projects like “Coyote Cry,” “White Buffalo,” and “Eagle Feather”. With hundreds of millions of streams and tours alongside Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson, Munsick’s authentic, neo-traditional sound set the perfect tone for his recent Casper performance.
For fans of authentic, Western-themed country, Ian Munsick delivers both nostalgia and modern flair, bringing a slice of Wyoming ranch life to the stage. Check out photos from the incredible performance below!
🤘🎸 Wyoming-Born Ian Munsick Brings Western Soul to Casper Stage
February 19, 2026. Returning to Casper for his Eagle Flies Free tour, Munsick captivated fans with a mix of nostalgia and modern flair. Sharing the stage with Jake Worthington and Tyler Nance, the Wyoming native delivered a performance steeped in Western tradition and country storytelling.
Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, TSM
-
Oklahoma4 days agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Technology1 week agoHP ZBook Ultra G1a review: a business-class workstation that’s got game
-
Health1 week agoJames Van Der Beek shared colorectal cancer warning sign months before his death
-
Culture1 week agoRomance Glossary: An A-Z Guide of Tropes and Themes to Find Your Next Book
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago“Redux Redux”: A Mind-Blowing Multiverse Movie That Will Make You Believe in Cinema Again [Review]
-
Science1 week agoContributor: Is there a duty to save wild animals from natural suffering?
-
Politics1 week agoTim Walz demands federal government ‘pay for what they broke’ after Homan announces Minnesota drawdown
-
News1 week ago
Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, AP source says, as Iran tensions high