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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
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.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
Advertisement
These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
Advertisement
Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
PAID FOR BY WYOMING HEALTH COUNCIL This article is a promoted post. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the organization that paid for the article, and do not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts or opinions of Oil City News, its employees or its publisher. Please fill out this form if you would like to speak to our sales department about advertising opportunities on Oil City News.
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
Advertisement
Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
MORE | Shootings
Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
Advertisement
The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
