Unusual, destructive elk fire threatens recreation areas; others are safe but “ready” in the evacuation phase.

DAYTON, Wyo. – Public and private infrastructure in western Sheridan County is increasingly threatened by the uncontained Elk Fire, which began Friday with a lightning strike. Officials have closed a large area, including recreational areas, but the fire has already caused destruction in several locations.

At a community emergency meeting in Dayton yesterday, U.S. Forest Service Chief Andrew Johnson stressed that firefighters are prioritizing protecting life and infrastructure, including recreational areas.

“We will continue our efforts to protect these critical assets as well as the infrastructure up in the forest, such as the places that you all like to recreate, be they campgrounds, lodges or resorts,” Johnson said.

(US Forest Service – Bighorn National Forest Facebook)

According to the Bighorn National Forest, the Elk Fire has now spread to about 50,000 acres in western Sheridan County. The map above shows the fire's proximity to the communities of Dayton and Parkman. Since Wednesday, authorities have evacuated numerous homes along rural roads west of these towns.

Dayton and Parkman are in the “ready” phase of Sheridan County’s three-stage evacuation process. Residents of these communities should be aware of the fire's progression and be prepared for a possible evacuation order.

According to the Forest Service, the hiking trails and campgrounds in Tongue River Canyon are within the uncontained fire area. Although authorities have not yet released an updated status report on this recreational area, the fire certainly had an impact on it.

Although the closures extend further north and south than the fire area, the entire Bighorn National Forest area is unseasonably dry and warm, a situation exacerbated by the famous Wyoming wind. That means there is no guarantee that other areas won't go up in flames. Johnson cited seasonally unprecedented weather conditions as the reason for the fire's erratic behavior. “The temperatures we’ve been feeling don’t feel like October,” Johnson said.

While closures due to the Elk Fire extend as far south as the Bighorn Mountains, the Red Grade Trail System, with its extensive network of trails, remains open, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Hiking trails between US 16 and US 14 in the Bighorn Mountain Range (screenshot from Apple Maps)

With U.S. Highway 14 closed from Dayton West to Burgess Junction, residents in surrounding areas are expected to experience significant smoke. The closure extends for more than 10 miles and marks the southernmost extent of the fire.

For more information about the dangers of prolonged smoke exposure and how to control smoke exposure, visit the CDC page on wildfires and associated health risks.

Ten miles south of Burgess Junction is the Antelope Butte Mountain Recreational Ski Area, which could be at risk if the fire continues to grow.

One of the National Forest's famous recreational lakes, Sibley Lake, is also in the closure area and is located just off US Highway 14, just a few miles from the Elk Fire. The lake offers opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, and non-motorized boating.

Johnson also warned at the meeting in Dayton of the significant risk of new fires starting due to widespread drought. He reported that firefighters had already extinguished two escaped campfires in the area.

Despite the efforts of over 200 firefighters on scene, the Moose Fire cannot be contained and continues to grow. The US Forest Service Bighorn National Forest Facebook page shared the following photos showing the extent of the fire's impact on the landscape.

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