Wyoming

Wildfires in Wyoming Cause Utter Destruction in a Matter of Hours

Published

1 day ago

August 23, 2024

Wildfires in Wyoming Cause Utter Destruction in a Matter of Hours

On Wednesday, the House Draw Fire east of Buffalo burned through multiple sizable ranches. As of 11:32 AM on Thursday, the fire had burned roughly 163,000 acres and was 0% contained.

Fire crews are battling challenging conditions brought on by heat and wind. Unpredictable weather has affected their efforts, with the fire changing directions and jumping across the interstate. Fire crews worked through the night Wednesday, cutting fire lines, back burning, and suppressing the fire.

It is unknown how many structures have been lost in the House Draw Fire, but slurry planes were able to save some homes and barns. Miles of fencing and other buildings were destroyed. Unfortunately, most of the grazing for livestock is a complete loss. It was a long night for many residents and today many will determine how their livestock fared in the veritable nightmare.

Words simply fail to do justice for the complete wreckage of generations of hard work. At this time, no human lives have been lost, but families across the counties have shed tears for the losses of what they had built. The number of livestock and wildlife lost will be determined in the coming days.

The Remington Fire, north of Arvada, has been estimated at around 10,000 acres and a voluntary evacuation notice is in effect for Arvada and Clearmont. This fire also does not have a reported estimation of containment, but is reported to be burning in extreme.

Campbell County residents found themselves faced with two fires outside of Gillette, the Flat Rock Draw Fire and the Constitution Fire. Into the afternoon and evening Wednesday, changing winds heavily impacted fire activity. Some ranchers lost corrals and structures. For others, homes and barns were the only thing left standing in a sea of ash.

As of Thursday evening, the Flat Rock Draw Fire had consumed roughly 30,000 acres and crews had achieved 30% containment. The Constitution Fire was estimated at 15,000 acres, but 0% containment.

With multiple fires burning at one time and moving quickly, it has been a community effort for residents to salvage what they can. Neighbors and local companies have pitched in, bringing able bodies and equipment to limit the damage. Local fire departments and emergency response crews are doing all they can, but are spread thin as they try to address all impacted areas.

Some residents in rural areas and subdivisions on the western side of Gillette have taken advantage of the pre-evacuation notice to move their animals to a safer location. The local event facility, Cam-Plex, opened their stock pens and horse stalls for the displaced. Neighbors and friends have banded together to ensure everyone was able to move horses and other animals quickly.

A large number of structures are still in danger, as well as the prairie grasslands stretching miles in every direction. These Wyoming communities will continue to be impacted by the catastrophic flames in the coming days, as residents work to preserve what they can of their livelihood.

Blustery winds are forecasted to continue through today and the weekend, adding to the already challenging landscape. Fire crews and air support will continue to wage war against the flames and the communities will continue to support one another, but we ask that our readers keep these areas in their thoughts.

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Wyoming

Food Bank of Wyoming celebrates 20 years

Published

4 hours ago

August 24, 2024

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Food Bank of Wyoming celebrates 20 years

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Wyoming

Five Large Fires Burn in Wyoming with Many Smaller Fires Not Contained

Published

11 hours ago

August 24, 2024

Press Room

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

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Wyoming

Wyoming Freedom Caucus chair looks to next legislative session as the faction gains seats

Published

19 hours ago

August 23, 2024

Press Room

Wyoming Freedom Caucus chair looks to next legislative session as the faction gains seats

The Freedom Caucus made some important gains in the primary. WPR checked in with Chair John Bear to hear what he thinks about the results. Bear was running uncontested in the primary for House Seat 31, which he has held since 2021. He is uncontested in the general election as well. Wyoming Public Radio’s state government reporter Chris Clements spoke with Bear.

Editor’s note: This story has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

Chris Clements: What was your reaction about the news on Tuesday?

John Bear: Well, it really blew me away because it was much more favorable than I anticipated.

CC: What did the gains made by the Freedom Caucus in this past primary tell you about Wyomingites [and] how they’re feeling right now?

JB: I was not shocked by the fact that Wyomingites really supported the type of legislators that Wyoming Freedom Caucus represents. But I am thankful that the voters really came out strongly for those types of legislators. These candidates really worked hard, so they deserve the credit for getting themselves into office. A lot of door-to-door work, a lot of communicating with the voters and letting them know who they were. We did a tremendous amount of work trying to inform the voters on voting records so they knew which legislators to support and which ones really didn’t match what we believe is the core values of the Wyoming voters.

CC: And could you tell me just a bit about those core values?

JB: I think one of the easiest ways to describe it would be that our legislators and our voters really believe in the 23 planks of the Wyoming Republican Party platform. And those are just real common sense things that have been a part of the platform for decades, really. It hasn’t changed a great deal, maybe a word here or there, but for the most part, those are timeless principles. Those principles align with our Wyoming Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.

Those things are, for instance, smaller government, pro-life, pro-family – pro-traditional family at that – and certainly pro-Second Amendment, with an understanding that our gun rights are really not about hunting, but they’re about defending ourselves against a tyrannical government.

CC: What does the Freedom Caucus hope to do in the next legislative session? Do you have any priorities you’d like to get passed in 2025?

JB: I believe it’s important that we do respond to the voters by providing them with the kind of return on investment of their votes giving us a majority. I think what you’re going to see is serious efforts to pass property tax reform and relief, things that were vetoed by the governor in this last session.

And you’re also going to see gun free zones eliminated in the House of Representatives. You’re going to see DEI funding for the university and the community colleges, the funding for that type of education, that “woke” education, if you will, is going to be limited, if not eliminated. And then I don’t think we’ll ever stop fighting for the unborn and protecting them. So you’ll see efforts in that regard. The governor did veto an effort just this last session and you’ll see us continuing to work on that area.

We want to keep porn out of our libraries and we want to simplify state funding. So that’s a real big task there. It’s not real sexy for the people, but it’ll take a lot of steps to kind of undo the complication that’s been developed over the last several decades.

I believe it’s unnecessary. It is keeping our funding and our financing for the state from being transparent, and I believe it’s important that every voter knows where the money goes, what’s happening with their tax dollars and what kind of stewards we are being with those dollars.

CC: Are you concerned at all? I heard about a few incumbent losses and [many of those were aligned with] the Wyoming Caucus. Are you concerned at all with those incumbent losses this past primary, that there might be a loss of institutional knowledge about the legislature?

JB: Let me tell you, Chris, why I’m not concerned.

Number one, the people who have put their names in to run for office in this regard, they’re devoted to this state. They’re devoted enough to really dig in and learn what they need to learn to be able to make good decision. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has been doing that since its inception. That is doing evaluations of bills, looking at the consequences of those bills and informing legislators so that they can make a good vote, as far as an informed vote.

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