DAYTON, WYOMING – In a recent social media update, the United States Forest Service for the Bighorn National Forest region, the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 announced the massive 72,000 acer Elk Fire, located northwest and southeast of Dayton, Wyoming is now 10% contained. 

“The added containment is along the northeast edge of the fire, to the north of Dayton. Efforts on the southern end of the fire are focused on taking actions to get ahead of fire movement and protect communities, as well as municipal watersheds in the Big Goose drainage, that are potentially threatened by the fire,” Casey Cheesebrough, incident commander, said. “Crews will be working using a variety of tools, such as structure protection and fireline construction, to prepare for future potential fire movement.”

Smoke has settled over the Elk Fire area from fires further to the west, the update further explained, which was expected to continue through Monday and is likely to keep fire activity lower. 

“This is expected to continue and is likely to keep fire activity lower today. This smoke may also impact air operations as helicopters need a minimum of one mile visibility to operate safely on wildland fires,” the update said. 

Crews will continue to provide structure protection work northwest of the fire in the Little Horn Canyon and subdivisions along US Highway 14, between Dayton and Burgess Junction, according to the update. Crews will be patrolling and mopping up any heat sources around structures, the update also explained. 

“Structure protection work will continue northwest of the fire in Little Horn Canyon and subdivisions along US HWY 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction. They will be patrolling and mopping up any heat sources around structures. Structure protection is accomplished through a variety of methods such as removal of vegetation near structures, construction of fireline, and placement of hose and sprinklers where possible. On the eastern side of the fire, firefighters will continue to extinguish areas of heat along established firelines,” according Cheesebrough. “Crews will also continue to patrol the area that is now contained.”

Crews south of the fire are implementing strategies to protect homes, communities, key infrastructure and the Sheridan watershed.

“The work includes developing new fireline on Red Grade Road near Bighorn, using heavy equipment and several fire crews. Structure protection tactics have been utilized to prepare the Big Goose Water Treatment facility for any fire that may move into the area. Efforts continue to minimize fire effects to the Big Goose Creek watershed, which feeds the water treatment facility,” the update read.

Cheesebrough expressed, the safety of the general public as well as firefighters remains the top priority. 

“The tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time with a focus on implementing plans and tactics that have a high probability of success,” the update explained. 

According to the update, approximately 700 cattle were transported away from danger Monday morning which was possible through joint collaborative efforts within the community and agencies supporting the fire. 

“The newest evacuation map can be found at the Sheridan County Emergency Management website, Sheridan County at sheridancountywy.gov,” the update explained. 

The cause of the fire, which was reported on Friday, September 27, was officially confirmed on Monday afternoon.

“A certified fire investigator was helicopter into the area where the first started, and it has been confirmed that the cause was indeed lightning,” the forest service released. 

Currently there are 680 total personnel working the fire, reports explained.