CASPER, Wyo. — The Elk Fire burning in the Bighorn National Forest just 6 miles northwest of Dayton has grown to 49,555 acres with 0% containment, according to an update from the U.S. Forest Service on Thursday morning.
The fire was sparked by lightning and has been driven by an unusually hot and dry fall season. Expected hot and windy weather by Friday is likely to increase the fire activity and spread, the Forest Service said.
A closure order has been issued for the north area of Red Grade Road to Highway 26, north to Highway 14 and east of the border of the Medicine Wheel Ranger District and the Tongue Ranger District, they said. US Highway 14 is closed from Dayton to Burgess Junction.
Efforts on Wednesday to slow the progression of the fire included crews on the southern end, with assistance from helicopters and aircraft fire retardant drops.
“Multiple air resources, including 10 helicopters and a variety of airtankers, will continue to assist firefighters on the ground today as weather conditions allow,” they said. “With these aerial assets being used on the fire, if you fly a drone or plane within the Temporary Flight Restriction, all air resources will be grounded for safety.”
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said that the state has spent its entire firefighting budget for two years during this season and Wyoming National Guard members are well deployed in numerous areas. “This has been one hell of a year,” the governor said during a community meeting in Ranchester on Wednesday evening. “This year has been exhausting for our firefighters.”
According to the Sheridan Press, schools and school activities on the Tongue River side of the district are closed today through at least the weekend, and pre-evacuation notices were given to residents of Dayton.
