News – Sheridan Media
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Northern Sheridan County residents who wanted to know what’s going on with the Elk Fire, had their first chance Wednesday night (October 2nd), to hear from various emergency responders and from Wyoming’s Governor.
Several hundred residents attended a public meeting at Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester, to get the latest updates regarding firefighting efforts and what to do if they need to evacuate.
As of 9pm Wednesday, the fire has burned more than 37-thousand acres of land, is 0% contained and has jumped US Highway 14 in some areas in the higher elevations, plus it has gone around Steamboat Point.
Evacuation orders have been given for all residences in the Tongue River Canyon, Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman, all residences from the X-X Ranch north to the Montana State line, and Horseshoe Subdivision.
Those residences east of the intersection of Tongue Canyon Road and Amsden Road, the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and all residences directly adjacent to the east of US Highway 14 going up the mountain, are under an evacuation warning and should prepare to evacuate if needed.
The town of Dayton, residences in Little Horn Canyon and those in the Parkman area north from Railroad Avenue to the Montana State Line are under an evacuation advisory.
Jon Warder is a Fire Management Officer in the Bighorn National Forest.
He says residents need to prioritize what they can take with them should they have to evacuate.
If time permits, there are ways to help fire crews if they can get to where the fire is threatening a residence.
It has also been announced that the Bighorn National Forest is now closed from Red Grade Road northward.
Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Jesse Ludikhuize says when it comes to issuing evacuation advisories, warnings and orders, a lot of it is dependent on the weather and fire behavior.
Ludikhuize adds if a fire grows too fast or the weather makes it change directions, a step in the evacuation ladder may have to be skipped and those affected could get little to no advanced warning.
Meanwhile, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon did a fly-over on the west side of the fire, before attending the public meeting.
He says in some instances the National Guard can be used in firefighting efforts, but it’s not that simple, and because of some of the terrain, that idea may not work.
A Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management team took over management of the Elk Fire this past Tuesday.
Click here to see an update on the Elk Fire
Click here to watch a replay of the public meeting
Kevin Koile – Sheridan Media
Kevin Koile – Sheridan Media
Kevin Koile – Sheridan Media
Kevin Koile – Sheridan Media”}]]
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Last modified: October 3, 2024