Wyoming
Five Large Fires Burn in Wyoming with Many Smaller Fires Not Contained
There are five large wildfires in Wyoming, with many smaller fires still not 100% contained. This amounts to about 270,000 acres burning.
House Draw Fire: Johnson County
Approximate amount burned: 165,000 acres
Flat Rock Fire: Campbell County
Approximate amount burned: 45,000 acres
Constitution Fire: Campbell County
Approximate amount burned: 20,000 acres
Remington Fire: Sheridan County/Southern Montana
Approximate amount burned: 185,000 acres, 30,000 in Wyoming
Governor Gordon made the following statement:
“I have marshaled all available resources to fight fires this summer, including the five significant wildfires burning today within Wyoming, focusing on preservation of life, property and containment. Fire crews are utilizing extensive ground and aerial resources to attack each of these fires to slow growth and protect threatened structures.
Confronting fires of this size and battling against Mother Nature’s forces takes significant dedication from those on the frontlines. I first want to thank all who are fighting these fires – both volunteer and full-time firefighters. They are protecting our livelihoods, homes, and landscapes.
Jennie and I send our prayers to everyone impacted. I recognize many people have questions about the status of the fires and the resources being utilized.”
The following is updated information as of the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 23.
What should the public do?
If in the vicinity of an active wildfire, the public should monitor the fire’s status through your local communication channels. Follow all emergency guidance. Stay clear of the fire to allow firefighters to safely access and suppress the fires.
What resources is Wyoming utilizing to fight these wildfires?
State critical fire resources include:
- Wyoming State Forestry helicopter and helitack firefighters
- Two Single Engine Air Tankers
- Wyoming Smokebusters
- Numerous state staff who are providing operational and administrative support.
Wyoming is cooperating with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, who are providing aviation resources, including:
- Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs)
- Large Air Tankers (LATs)
- Single Engine Air tankers (SEATs)
- Scooper planes
On the ground, Wyoming is coordinating with all local fire districts and emergency personnel, state, federal and county engines, county and private dozers and blades, all working these fires on the frontline protecting their communities.
Wyoming has also activated our state-to-state forest fire compact agreements to access local and state resources from other western states and is coordinating with the Rocky Mountain Area Coordinating Group to access additional federal resources from across the nation.
Why hasn’t the National Guard been activated?
The National Guard is standing ready to assist in supporting county, state, and federal wildfires with evacuation support, road closures, and other health and safety matters related to the fires. Due to federal restrictions, all federal, state, and county firefighting resources must be exhausted before the National Guard firefighting resources can be requested.
Why are the fires so difficult to contain?
Last year’s welcome moisture resulted in an abundance of available fuel for fires. This fuel on the ground combined with Wyoming’s winds make for large, fast-moving fires that are particularly challenging to firefighting efforts.
The state is experiencing storm systems that bring with them lightning and sometimes little or no moisture. Another factor is the high number of fires throughout the west which are stressing firefighting resources throughout the country.
How does this fire year compare to others?
Currently, Wyoming is experiencing an average number of wildfires but an above average amount of acres burned. Last year was a well below average fire season, due to the above average amount of moisture. In 2024 to date, Wyoming has had 522 wildfires that have burned approximately 327,700 acres. Unique to this fire season is the fact that the majority of the wildfires have burned on private rather than federal lands.
What are the plans for recovering the landscape?
Wyoming will focus on recovery efforts and bring in all available resources once the fires are contained. Federal partners will aid in this recovery; the USDA is offering disaster assistance to help private landowners and producers cover loss and recovery. To be eligible for recovery, producers are required to document losses. Additional recovery resources are being identified. The Legislature will have to consider what additional aid or support the state will provide to those impacted.
Five Large Fires Spread Across Wyoming
Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, TSM
2024 Best Looking Cruiser Contest
Gallery Credit: American Association of Troopers
CASPER, Wyo. — High school athletics in Wyoming could see some drastic changes in the coming years following legislative changes to the state’s education budget, the Wyoming High School Activities Association recently announced in a statement.
According to the WHSAA, Wyoming school districts are facing a projected $3.9 million shortfall in activities funding, forcing officials to consider significant cuts to high school sports and extracurricular programs.
The WHSAA shared details regarding a new “silo” funding model implemented by the Legislature, stating that the recalibrated block grant model reduced funding for student activities and extra-duty responsibilities from $46.3 million to $42.4 million, an approximately 8.4% decrease statewide.
WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson said the restructuring also restricts district access to an additional $76.2 million in previously flexible funding.
“A significant portion of the [April 28 WHSAA Board of Directors] meeting was dedicated to discussing the projected funding shortfall,” Wilson wrote.
The WHSAA is weighing several strategies to address rising costs with fewer resources. Proposed changes include eliminating regional tournaments and reducing the number of teams qualifying for state events from eight to four; limiting wrestling to two classes and restricting track and field state participants to the top 16 marks; making cuts to soccer, indoor track and field, Nordic and Alpine skiing, swimming and diving, spring golf and tennis; and reducing in-person speech and debate events by half and centrally locating All-State Music events to minimize travel. The board also recommended increasing gate admission or implementing student participation fees to offset costs.
While the WHSAA release states that no plans have been finalized and the various changes are currently just possibilities, Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees member Mary Schmidt criticized the WHSAA’s handling of the news at Monday’s board meeting.
“I take some issues with this, [including] the sheer fact that we as Board of Trustees members have not talked about that at all,” Schmidt said. “It is not our intent and it has not been brought to us to cut our athletics or activities budget for the upcoming school year. … I take issue with them picking sports and getting the community upset and ginning them up to be upset that this is all going to be cut when that hasn’t been discussed.”
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Angela Hensley clarified that Natrona County School District 1’s athletics and activities budget saw a reduction of roughly $550,000 in the coming year’s budget, but said the local school district does not plan to cut any sports.
“Thank you, Trustee Schmidt, for saying this, because I think people are wondering — we are not planning to cut athletics and activities for next year,” Hensley said. “We do have to take a look at our entire budget as we have talked about, as we learn more about these new rules that come in.”
Related
Republished with permission from Wyoming News Now, a TV news outlet covering the Cheyenne and Casper areas.
Cheyenne City Council has introduced a temporary moratorium, or pause, on new data center construction.
“The end goal is to actually have regulations in place, to have really heavy public involvement with this with data centers,” said Councilman Mark Moody.
The proposed ordinance is not a permanent ban on data centers and would not affect data centers currently under construction.
Councilman Moody says this is a bipartisan issue.
“I just want to make this clear, I’m not against data centers. We do need them from a national security perspective,” he said.
He said there needs to be more public input and regulations regarding data centers in Cheyenne.
The ordinance would require city staff to study data center impacts such as electricity usage, electricity tariffs, closed-loop cooling systems, groundwater impacts, agricultural impacts, and land value.
Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County, reported in November 2025 that there are 12 operational data centers in Wyoming, five under construction and plans for 43 data centers announced across the state.
“There needs to be more public input with this, and also to see how many we can sustain here in this community, cause there are talks of 43, and then another day 70. How many can we sustain here?” said Councilman Moody.
The proposed moratorium will now go to the Public Services Committee on Monday, May 18 at noon in the Municipal Building.
Sheridan will play in the North Regional Tournament at Gillette, while the South Regional Tournament will be played at Rock Springs.
North Regional Tournament at Gillette:
Checking record vs. highest team in the quadrant not involved in the tie, Thunder Basin gets the #1 Northeast seed over Campbell County, because the Lady Bolts went 3-1 vs. Sheridan, whereas the Lady Camels went 2-2.
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 NE) Thunder Basin vs. (#4 NW) Jackson – 11am
(#2 NW) Natrona County vs. (#3 NE) Sheridan – 11am
(#2 NE) Campbell County vs. (#3 NW) Kelly Walsh – 1pm
(#1 NW) Cody vs. (#4 NE) Worland – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Thunder Basin/Jackson winner vs. Natrona County/Sheridan winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh winner vs. Cody/Worland winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Thunder Basin/Jackson loser vs. Natrona County/Sheridan loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh loser vs. Cody/Worland loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
South Regional Tournament at Rock Springs:
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 SW) Laramie vs. (#4 SE) Torrington – 11am
(#2 SE) Cheyenne East vs. (#3 SW) Green River – 11am
(#2 SW) Rock Springs vs. (#3 SE) Wheatland – 1pm
(#1 SE) Cheyenne Central vs. (#4 SW) Cheyenne South – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Laramie/Torrington winner vs. Cheyenne East/Green River winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Rock Springs/Wheatland winner vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Laramie/Torrington loser vs. Cheyenne East/Green River loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Rock Springs/Wheatland loser vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
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