GOSHEN COUNTY – In a recent press release, Thom Bozeman, Goshen County Emergency Management Coordinator/Fire Warden, explained the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has now assumed command of the Haystacks Fire as the fire is on BLM property, Bozeman explained. 

“All County resources, both Platte and Goshen Counties, have been released from the fire. BLM engines, hand crews and state air assets have been working all day to achieve containment. At this point, the fire is 75% contained,” Bozeman said in a release Monday, July 29 afternoon. 

The fire was located on the Goshen/Platte County line near Fort Laramie and according to the Yoder Volunteer Fire Department’s social media, the department assisted in fire suppression with the use of a dozer to cut contingency lines on the fire. 

According to multiple outlets, single engine airtankers or SEATs were also on site battling the blaze. 

“Goshen, Platte County and BLM Fire Departments are on scene of the Haystack Mountain Fire on the Platte/Goshen County line northwest of Ft. Laramie. Currently the fire is contained to the mountain on BLM land. Crews are working on cutting containment lines with bulldozers and air assets are dousing the fire with slurry and water,” the Goshen County Emergency Management Facebook page explained on Sunday, July 28. 

In a final email on Monday evening, Bozeman announced the fire had been 100% contained. 

“The Haystacks fire is 100% contained. BLM units are demobilizing, and the area will be monitored by local departments,” Bozeman said. “We’d like to thank all the people that supported the firefighters on this fire.”

According to Bozeman, the fire was started by dry lightning and Bozeman is waiting for the complete list of fire departments which responded from Platte County officials.