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This map shows land ownership in shades of white and green, fainter lines for roads and highways, and the Elk Fire Closure shown with a purple perimeter and lighter purple interior.
This map shows land ownership in shades of white and green, fainter lines for roads and highways, and the Elk Fire shown with a red perimeter and a pink interior.
The Elk Fire burning near Riley Point and West Pass on the Bighorn National Forest. The fire was detected at 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 27, 2024. Lightning strikes were recorded in the general area within the last ten days making it the suspected cause of the fire. Air attack and ground crews initially responded, which included retardant and bucket drops from airtankers and a helicopter. Hand crews are on scene and more resources will be arriving over the next few days.
The Elk Fire is burning in heavy dead and down timber. The terrain is rough and remote making it challenging for firefighters to get in or out of the incident. There are two nearby cow camps. A closure order for the area is in place to protect the safety of firefighters and our visitors traveling Forest roads and trails. Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 took command of the Elk Fire on October 1st at 7:00 p.m.
| Current as of | Thu, 10/03/2024 - 11:27 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Denver |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | Bighorn National Forest |
| Incident Commander | Casey Cheesbrough, Incident Commander Jay Miller, Deputy Incident Commander Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Three |
| Coordinates |
44° 53' 49.6'' Latitude
-107° 33' 59.51
'' Longitude
|
| Total Personnel: | 195 |
|---|---|
| Size | 49,555 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 0% |
| Fuels Involved | The Elk Fire is burning in heavy dead and down timber. |
| Significant Events | Fire behavior is extreme with crowning and short-range spotting. |
| Planned Actions |
Firefighters will scout for indirect and direct control lines across the fire and work to limit the forward spread of the fire. They will also be working on structure protection across the fire. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Fire is expected to spread in all directions, following heavy fuels. |
| Remarks |
CLOSURES: Current Elk Fire closures can be found on the Bighorn National Forest website. |
| Weather Concerns | Hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected to continue. |
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