Single Publication

Firefighters successfully hold fire perimeters as breezy conditions test containment lines; Community meeting scheduled for August 28 in Birney, MT

Daily Update August 26, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 307-201-3885 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Media Information Phone: 307-543-7202 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Email: 2024.housedraw@firenet.gov

Acres: Flat Rock – 52,599; Remington – 196,387; Constitution – 24,594; House Draw – 174,702
Acreage changes may occur due to overnight operations and infrared mapping.

Containment: Flat Rock – 35% Remington – 0%; Constitution – 28%; House Draw – 88%

Location: Flat Rock – 11 miles NW of Gillette, WY; Remington – 20 NE of Leiter WY, multiple counties in SE Montana; Constitution – 15 miles north of Gillette, WY; House Draw – 40 miles southeast of Buffalo, WY
Start Date: August 21, 2024                      Personnel: 840                               Fuels: Grass, brush and timber

Resources: 24 crews | 3 helicopters | 78 engines | 9 bulldozers | 7 water tenders 

Highlights: Crews successfully hold perimeter on Flat Rock, Constitution, Remington and House Draw fires in northeast Wyoming and southeast Montana. A community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Birney Post Office (302 Commercial Street, Birney, MT).

Fire Activity: Outflow winds from area thunderstorms tested containment lines across several of the area fires yesterday, Sunday, August 25. Today, firefighters, heavy equipment crews and aerial resources will monitor conditions and respond to on-going fire threats. 

Flat Rock – The Flat Rock fire exhibited moderate fire behavior yesterday, as interior unburned pockets of fuel were consumed, primarily within the north flank of the fire where ground and air resources worked in tandem within the pinyon-juniper forests. Today, crews will patrol, monitor and secure fireline, utilizing direct tactics on the north end where active fire is being observed.

Remington – Fire behavior was significantly reduced on the Remington fire yesterday. Today, firefighters will monitor activity on the north end, conducting mopup in the northeast and securing line to the southwest. 

Constitution –Today, heavy equipment crews on the Constitution fire will utilize bulldozers to continue constructing containment lines, tying into natural features when feasible. Fire activity on the northern end continues to produce smoke as interior pockets of unburned fuel are consumed.

House Draw – Yesterday, firefighters responded to and successfully extinguished a burning powerline outside the perimeter of the House Draw fire. Today, crews will patrol and mopup remaining heat sources, securing line where needed.

Evacuations: No evacuation orders are in place for Sheridan, Johnson or Campbell Counties, Wyoming. A Level 2 evacuation notice is in effect for Big Horn, Rosebud, and Powder River Counties in Montana. 
Weather: The fire area will experience slightly cooler temperatures today with an increased potential for showers and wetting rains.   

Fire Restrictions and Closures: Fire Restrictions are in place across the fire area including:

• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for Custer Gallatin National Forest, Ashland Ranger District. More information available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices/?aid=89447.
• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for Bureau of Land Management Buffalo Field Office in Johnson County (as of July 1, 2024) and Campbell and Sheridan Counties (as of July 9, 2024). More information available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/wyoming/fire.

More Information:

InciWeb (House Draw Fire):  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wyhpd-house-draw-fire 

InciWeb (Remington Fire): https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtgnf-remington-fire 

Public Information Linktree: https://linktr.ee/housedrawfire 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5/