Evacuations are ordered as two wildfires explode in Wyoming

Hot, dry and windy conditions are fueling two large wildfires in different parts of Wyoming, forcing residents to evacuate.

The Elk Fire in Sheridan County has grown to more than 22,500 acres as of Friday, while the Pack Trail Fire south of Togwotee Pass has reached more than 19,600 acres. Both fires were started by lightning strikes.

“With more fire weather forecast for this week, it is absolutely critical that hunters and others who recreate outside continue to exercise caution,” Gov. Mark Gordon wrote in a Facebook post Monday.

The governor urged residents to check the local emergency manager pages for Fremont County and Sheridan County for the latest information on evacuations and area closures.

Moosefire

Evacuations were ordered for the entire Horseshoe subdivision west of Dayton in Sheridan County as of 3 p.m. Monday.

“Law enforcement and fire officials will contact each residence to inform them of the assessment order,” the Sheridan County Government Facebook page says. “No further orders have been issued for Dayton or other communities at this time.”

According to the US Forest Service, emergency crews were unable to contain the fire that broke out on Friday.

“Aerial operations are underway and four large air tankers are dropping inhibitors at locations where success is greatest,” said a U.S. Forest Service news release. “Due to strong winds, helicopter operations are suspended. Firefighters remain focused on protecting structures along the mountain face along Pass Creek toward Dayton, Wyoming.”

Meanwhile, Wyoming Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess is closed to all public traffic. Sheridan County has also closed Pass Creek Road, Twin Creek, Smith Creek Road and Tongue River Canyon Road to non-residents.

Additionally, the northern portion of the Tongue Ranger District north of Highways 14 and 14a is closed.

Pack Trail Fire

The Pack Trail Fire is burning south of the ongoing Fish Creek Fire and forced the evacuation of cabins, ranches, homes and lodges west of Dubois on Sunday.

Those evacuations included Brooks Lake Road, Pinnacle and Breccia Drives, Long Creek and Lava Mountain Subdivisions, Triangle C Ranch, Old KOA, Timberline Ranch and Rawhide Ranches, among others, WyoFile previously reported.

The Fish Creek and Pack Trail fires are being fought together.

Wind gusts reaching 60 miles per hour on Sunday caused the Pack Trail Fire to grow to more than 19,600 acres, showing “extreme fire behavior,” according to the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

“The fire had a wind-driven spread of 5 miles, with patches and burns occurring throughout the afternoon,” Jackson District Ranger Todd Stiles said.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office contacted more than 60 residents on Sunday to directly inform them of Sunday's urgent evacuation notice.

“They had a good response,” Fremont County Emergency Coordinator Milan Vinich told WyoFile. “Many people” followed the advice to evacuate.

Only a few people had to go to the Red Cross emergency shelter at the former Warm Valley Assisted Living Lodge. Some cattle had to be relocated, but as of Monday morning, no cattle were brought into the Dubois rodeo grounds for shelter.

The Pack Trail Fire is 0% contained, while the Fish Creek Fire is 85% contained.

Angus Thuermer Jr. contributed to this report.