Gusty winds stoked the Elk fire at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, pushing the blaze closer to the water supply for Sheridan, Wyoming.
“Nearby resources working the night shift — one dozer, one hotshot crew, and eight engines — responded to the area,” according to an InciWeb post.
Backfires will be lit near the water plant to remove fuels when conditions allow, the Forest Service said. With warm, dry weather continuing, the fire was expected to be more active on Wednesday prompting more aerial assaults, including retardant bombing and water drops.
“Structure protection has been put in place around the Big Goose Water Treatment Facility and crews have implemented point protection through use of sprinkler systems,” according to a Bighorn National Forest Facebook post.
A community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Big Horn High School to update residents.
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The fire grew to 118 square miles (75,969 acres), up from 116 square miles on Tuesday.Personnel fighting the fire also grew, from 829 on Tuesday to 889 by Wednesday.
On the north end of the fire close to Montana’s southern border, a hotshot crew lit a backfire to remove fuels and fire retardant was dropped along the 144 Road.
“Today, the crews will continue to prepare the 144 Road and conduct more firing operations to protect the Little Bighorn Canyon,” InciWeb said. “That area of the fire is active and in steep drainages that are producing smoke.”
Thanks to the work of firefighters, containment increased on the northeastern side of the fire from 10% to 16% on Tuesday.
“On the southeastern and southern parts of the fire, mop up and patrolling continues in the Crystal Springs area,” according to InciWeb. “In the southern portion of the fire, road graders are working alongside firefighting resources on Red Grade Road, and structure protection in the Poverty Flats area will continue today.”
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has temporarily closed the Story Fish Hatchery in response to the fire's growth. The area is in the "Ready" phase for evacuation.
Structures at Burgess Junction on the western edge of the fire atop the Bighorn Mountains have been protected.
“Firefighters remain in place to protect structures and engage the fire if necessary,” according to InciWeb. “There will be heavy equipment in the area today prepping the 15 Road. Strategic firing operations may be conducted today if weather conditions are favorable.”
On Tuesday, the Wyoming Department of Transportation reduced the road closure on Highway 14 north of the Antelope Butte Ski Area and Highway 14A east of Lovell. To accommodate access to Hunt Area 40 outside of the Elk fire closure areas west of Burgess Junction, the Wyoming Highway Patrol moved two staffed closures to milepost 85.6 (Hunt Mountain Road/FS10 on US 14A) and milepost 38.3 (Granite Pass/Hunt Mountain Road/FS 10 on US 14).
An emergency shelter has been established at the fairgrounds in Sheridan and can accommodate people, RVs and animals. To make arrangements call 307-752-2174 or 307-683-6965.
Record highs were possible across parts of Eastern Montana and north-central Wyoming, according to the National Weather Service. Smoke from the fire is producing unhealthy air quality in the Sheridan area.
To the south in the Wind River Mountains, the 94-square mile Pack Trail fire remains 60% confined as 571 personnel fight the fire.
A community meeting is scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. at Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois.
On Tuesday the fire pushed southeast into Leeds Creek. On Tuesday night, fire crews implemented structure protection in the Cowboy Camp area. Firefighters set a small tactical fire to improve control lines and reduce dry, flammable fuels near the 540 Road on the east side.
On Wednesday, crews were scouting for natural and indirect holding features and building an indirect line along 553 Road. Road crews are beginning work on Union Pass to improve road safety for firefighter vehicles and enhance the fuel break. The road is closed to Buffalo Meadow.
The west side of the fire continues to back down Burnt Ridge. Firefighters will implement structure protection at Elk Track Ranch and in the Gros Ventre area. Crews continue to improve indirect holding lines in the area.
Sprinklers and structure protection are being implemented in the Long Valley, Teton Youth Camp and Union Pass Subdivision areas. On the north side, there was no new fire activity, but some heat remains in the interior and smoke may be visible.
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