Single Publication

Elk Fire Update

Saturday, October 19, 2024 - 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 307-303-7642

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email: 2024.Elk@firenet.gov 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybhf-elk-fire-2024 

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

Information Linktree: https://linktr.ee/2024ElkFire 

Special Notes: Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (RM CIMT1) assumed management of the Elk Fire at 6 p.m. yesterday. We have completed transitioning with RM CIMT3, and we thank them for their service on the fire these past 18 days. Their hard work has set us up to successfully complete incident objectives.

Following recent precipitation, the status of evacuations and closures has been evolving. Please continue checking the evacuation and closure links below for current information.

Current Situation: A strong Autumn storm system passed over the Elk Fire on Thursday and Friday, dropping about an inch of precipitation in the form of rain and snow. The moisture markedly reduced fire behavior across the fire area, giving firefighters a welcome reprieve. With clearing skies today, fire personnel will be assessing post-storm conditions to determine current work priorities and opportunities. The wet conditions will likely mean limited fire behavior and minimal fire growth for at least a few days. During this time, firefighters will have the opportunity to shift focus from battling active fire to planning for end-of-incident activities like suppression repair and backhaul of supplies and equipment. All decisions on future activities will be premised on firefighter and public safety and the need to protect critical resources like roads, trails, riparian areas, recreation facilities, and structures.

A warming and drying trend is expected to reestablish next week, and smoke could again become visible in the fire area. Firefighting crews will remain alert and ready for any suppression actions that may need to be taken. The Elk Fire remains unchanged today at 96,179 acres and 44% contained.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior: High pressure will build back into northern Wyoming today, bringing clearer skies, warmer temperatures, and lower relative humidity. Winds will be light, with SW drainage winds prevailing through mid-morning and evening, and easterly upslope flow during the day. Solar insolation and warming temperatures will accelerate snowmelt across the higher elevations. Moisture from the recent storm will minimize fire behavior to creeping and smoldering. No significant fire growth is expected today.   

Evacuations: For information on Johnson County evacuations, go to Johnson County Emergency Management’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JohnsonCoWYEMC . For info on Sheridan County evacuations and road closures, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: www.tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5 . You can also call the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office (307-672-3455) or Sheridan County Emergency Management (307-752-2174).

Closures: US Highway 14 is closed between Burgess Junction and Dayton. View the Wyoming Department of Transportation road-closure map here: https://www.wyoroad.info/ . Bighorn National Forest closure Order No. 02-02-06-24-08 is in effect. The order and map can be viewed here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices .

Elk Fire Statistics:

Size: 96,179 acres   |   Containment: 44%   |   Total Personnel: 807   |   Location: West of Sheridan, WY

Reported: September 27, 2024   |   Cause: lightning

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