DAYTON, WYOMING — The 51,115-acre Elk Fire west of Sheridan, Wyoming, continues to burn with 0% containment. The fire is located about six miles north of Dayton, Wyoming, which is about 15 miles west of Sheridan. Officials were concerned it could grow significantly overnight Friday night with the passage of a cold front and winds forecast to gust to more than 50 miles per hour.
More than 500 firefighters are working the lightning-caused blaze — which was first reported on Friday, September 27. They took advantage Thursday’s calmer weather to conduct burn-out operations and create more of a fire break.
Kristie Thompson is the Elk Fire information officer for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. She says there is no timeline for containment or control. “There are patches of unburned timber well within the fire area,” she said. “We will continue to see smoke from this fire until we have snow.”
She also urged people stay safe. “If you’ve been evacuated, please do leave. And if a road is closed, please steer clear. We have fire traffic that needs to be in that area.”
Lisa Eichhorn is a spokesperson for Sheridan County. She said it’s disconcerting for area residents to see smoke and ash in the air. But, she says, “Don’t get overly, concerned because you see ash in the air. Ash is ash, not necessarily embers. And when or if it’s going to affect you directly, we will let you know as soon as we can.”
“There’s a lot of information out there, but it’s only a few of us that are putting out the official information,” says Eichhorn. And we try very hard to get that out as quickly as we have information, but obviously this is a fire, and it changes. So our Facebook site — Sheridan County Facebook site. Our Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office has a great active account, as well as the U.S. Forestry Service Bighorn.”
On behalf of the Incident Management Team, Thompson thanked the local community for it’s support. “[They] have been amazingly gracious with everything they’re going through. They have shown us support and kindness from the very start, and we can’t thank them enough.”
And she praised the local firefighters for their work. “The local volunteer fire department, they’ve been here from Day One,” says Thompson. Dayton, Ranchester, Sheridan — they’ve been the ones that have been fighting this fire. And we’re very thankful for all the work that they have done.”