News – Sheridan Media
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Due to the hot, dry conditions in the Sheridan area this summer, combined with the open, dry winter, fire danger continues to be high.
Nearly everyone in the Sheridan area remembers the elk fire in 2024, that burned nearly 100,000 acres, mainly on the Bighorn National Forest.
At the Sheridan County Airport Airshow on August 22, the USFS had a display, including Smokey Bear, to help to inform residents about some tips to avoid starting a wild land fire.
Although Smokey Bear couldn’t talk, he is a bear, after all, Joel Cooper of the USFS talked this year’s fire season, and some tips to help avoid fires on the forest.
He added this about Smokey Bear.
“We are super happy that everyone is being responsible.”
On August 26, Chris Thomas, Sheridan County Fire Warden, spoke to the crowd at the Airport Economic Impact meeting held at the fairgrounds exhibit hall.
He said they put in for a Community Wildfire Defense Grant funded by the feds, to pay for the study. He said they have been working with them for months, and put together a core team of federal, state and local people. Now, it is in the final draft stage, and can be accessed through the county website.
He added that it doesn’t matter where the mitigation work is done, whether on grasslands or forest land. He said it included ideas of how to make changes in your house and surrounding areas to make them less vulnerable to fire. The study is not saying one has to use the suggestions, but it is just for information.
The draft is now out for public comment, and he said he knew it is a big ask of people, as it is 290 pages, but it is a searchable PDF.
He added it gives ideas on how to treat these problem areas and break up the fuel continuity to keep everyone safe from wild fires.
For more on this study go to https://www.sheridancountywy.gov/
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Last modified: August 29, 2026