Single Publication

Elk Fire Update – October 14, 2024

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Casey Cheesbrough, Incident Commander 

Size: 89,315 acres (1,455-acre increase)

Total Personnel: 944

Containment: 27 percent

Cause: Lightning

Resources: 13 aircraft | 19 crews | 59 engines | 8 dozers | 18 water tenders | 5 masticators | 8 skidders | 6 feller bunchers 4 processor | 3 chippers

Key Messages: The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office has implemented planned changes to evacuation levels today.  Residents in the Poverty Flats area have been moved to “Go” status, while others to the north have been changed from “Ready” to “Set”. These changes are due to potential nearby strategic firing operations and increases of personnel, resources and equipment in these areas. For more information on Sheridan County evacuations, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5.

Public information officers will be at the Big Horn post office today from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm to answer questions about the current fire situation, operational strategies, and evacuations.

Current Situation: Firefighting crews continued strategic firing operations south of the main fire yesterday to reduce fuels, slow the fires spread, and reduce intensity. Firefighters started ignitions at Red Grade Road and the operations progressed to the north.  Overnight crews continued the firing operations and were able to complete firing along the seven-mile-long control line.  Structure protection crews will continue work near homes and other properties in the Poverty Flats area today, clearing flammable debris and setting up ponds, pumps and sprinkler systems. 

Up Red Grade Road on the National Forest, crews are using feller bunchers, masticators and other heavy equipment to clear vegetation on both sides of the FSR 26 in order to create defensible line for strategic firing operations, if needed, to stop the southward movement of the fire.

In the Burgess Junction area, hand crews and heavy equipment will continue work to improve the 15 Road and remove trees and vegetation. Their goal is to reduce potential fire impacts in Burgess Junction. Crews and equipment will move to the 16 Road today, doing similar work.

Crews north of the fire continued chipping debris along the 144 road, as well as patrolling along the dozer lines to prevent any movement west into the Broderick Flats. Patrols along containment line on the eastern side of the fire are ongoing, with very few hotspots being found. 

Weather & Fire Behavior: Yesterday there were moderate temperatures, slightly lower relative humidity, and lingering smoke. This resulted in minimal fire activity during the day. Last night, the lower humidity continued early resulting in more fire activity than recent nights. After midnight, temperatures fell and humidity rose resulting in steadily decreasing fire activity. Today is forecasted to be warmer and drier with a westerly wind moving to a northwesterly wind. This will likely increase fire activity on the southern end of the fire; for air-quality and smoke information, go to airnow.gov. 

Evacuations and Closures: For information on Johnson County evacuations, go to Johnson County Emergency Management’s Facebook page: facebook.com/JohnsonCoWYEMC. For info on Sheridan County evacuations and road closures, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5. You can also call the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office (307-672-3455) or Sheridan County Emergency Management (307-752-2174). The Red Cross has an evacuation center at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds that can accommodate people, RVs/campers, pets, and livestock.  Call 307-752-2174 or 307-683-6965 to make arrangements. US Highway 14 is closed at Granite Pass/Hunt Mountain Road/FS 10 (milepost 38.3). US Highway 14A is closed at Hunt Mountain Road/FS10 (milepost 85.6). View the Wyoming Department of Transportation road-closure map here: wyoroad.info. Bighorn National Forest lands around the Elk Fire are closed under Order 02-02-06-24-08. The order and map can be viewed here: fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices.