Single Publication

Elk Fire Update, November 01, 2024

Special Notes:  This will be the Final Daily Update for the Elk Fire. The incident management team will continue to share future announcements related to the fire on the Bighorn National Forest Facebook Page and on the Elk Fire’s Inciweb page, at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybhf-elk-fire-2024\

Red Grade Road from the eastern Forest boundary up to its intersection with Big Goose Road 296 will reopen Saturday, November 2 at 7am. Red Grade Road west of Big Goose Road will remain closed for the near future while heavy equipment operators continue working to create indirect fireline. For more details on the reduced Forest Closure Order, go to the Bighorn National Forest website at  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices.

Current Situation: Logging trucks in the new Deck Haul Group will begin transporting log decks along Dayton Gulch Road 15 to a staging area south of Fool Creek Basin today. This operation will continue for several days Motorists should use extreme caution on the 15 road, or avoid using it, if possible. The trees were cleared earlier in the fire as part to create fire control line. The log decks are spread out over several miles on the 15 road, from its intersection with Forest Service Road 167 road on the east to the junction with Forest Service Road 144 road on the west.  The logs are being moved to a staging area south of Fool Creek Basin. The Forest plans to put the logs up for sale at a later date. 

The Equipment Group continues to work westward on Red Grade Road, using feller bunchers, processors, skidders and other logging equipment to create fire control lines to protect the Sheridan Municipal watershed and nearby structures. This fuel break along Red Grade Road is being established to stop future fire spread, whether it is this year or in decades to come.

The Repair Group has been completing suppression repair projects on properties along the face of the Bighorns, where conditions allow. Some of the dozer lines they plan to repair are still covered in snow, so firefighters have been taking advantage of other opportunities.  Yesterday, they completed repairs on a number of fences that had been cut to allow implementation of dozer line.  Today, the Repair Group plans to be working along the eastern edge of the fire on similar projects.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior:  Mostly sunny Friday with high temperatures Friday will be in the mid-30’s over much of the fire area. Humidity levels stay above 40 percent and winds will be out of the southwest at 7-12 mph, with gusts to 15. Overnight low temperatures will drop into the mid-teens, with continued light southwest winds.

Closures and Advisories: The modified Bighorn National Forest Closure reduces the closure area to a smaller footprint. Forest Closure Order No. 02-02-06-24-08 and the related map can be viewed here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices. Wyoming State Game and Fish is also re-opening several locations, including Amsden Creek Wildlife Habitat Management Area and the Kerns Wildlife Habitat Management Area, which will be open to non-motorized use only. This link provides more information: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/wyoming-game-and-fish-department-reopens-most-properties-sheridan-county

Elk Fire Statistics: Size: 98,352 acres   |   Containment: 88%   |   Total Personnel: 165|   Location: West of Sheridan, WY

Reported: September 27, 2024   |   Cause: lightning