GILLETTE, Wyo. — Suppression efforts for two large-scale wildfires actively burning in Campbell County continue Wednesday in a hands-on-deck approach to hold the line at Interstate 90 west of Gillette.
According to Fire Marshal Stewart Burnham, public information officer for the Campbell County Fire Department, all department members are actively working to contain two fires to the north and west of Gillette: the Constitution Fire and the Flat Rock Draw Fire.
The Constitution Fire has been estimated at 3,000 acres and prompted evacuation notices for recreation areas and properties south of Horse Creek Road north of Gillette. According to Burnham, North Highway 59 remains closed with the department predicting active fire behavior and suppression efforts this afternoon.
The Flat Rock Draw Fire ignited off Echeta Road, approximately 13 miles west of Gillette, and has since burned south to Interstate 90, where it continues to threaten structures and property. Structures have been damaged, but exactly how many remains unknown, per Burnham.
Additional evacuations were issued for communities in the Wild Horse Creek Road area, with the department concentrating its efforts on limiting damage to infrastructure and structures, Burnham confirmed.
“If we can contain it at Interstate 90, we should be looking pretty good,” Burnham said, though he added dry conditions, hot weather and winds are going to have a big impact on how effective containment efforts will be.
There will be heavy smoke in the Gillette area today from the local fires amplified by suppression efforts in neighboring counties.
Johnson County is actively battling a wildfire burning to the west, and there is the potential for unreported fires sparked by an Aug. 21 thunderstorm. The department is preparing for an anticipated dry burning period starting around 2 p.m. and is working to get as much firefighting done as possible before then, Burnham said.
Burnham said the fires and conditions have created a unique situation where agencies are spread thin, creating an overload of emergencies due to a lack of available resources. While federal agencies are aiding where they can, the bulk of the firefighting effort in Campbell County is being supplied by the local fire department bolstered by other county agencies.
All Campbell County fire stations are staffed and prepared to respond to calls in Gillette, Wright and other county areas, Burnham said.
Pre-evacuation notices advising residents to be ready to flee remain in effect. Burnham said Campbell County Emergency Management issues the notices to give residents time to gather important items and medication in the event of an evacuation where time is of the essence.
Residents should not wait for a formal evacuation notice before getting to safety if they see an immediate fire threat, Emergency Management Coordinator David King previously told County 17.
Containment percentages and damage estimates for the Constitution Fire and the Flat Rock Draw Fire were unavailable at the time of press; however, Burnham said the department will conduct an assessment to potentially release additional information later today.
Additionally, Burnham expressed the department’s gratitude for community donations to support the firefighting effort. As of press time, the department has reached capacity for donations and is requesting residents to hold off on donating additional resources.
