GILLETTE, Wyo. — A press release sent out by the Campbell County Fire Department contains new information on the fires burning outside Gillette.
The Constitution Fire, located near Collins Road and Highway 59, is now at an estimated 12,080 acres, a number reached through new data and mapping efforts. This is slightly below earlier estimates, the department said, but the fire is still dangerous. One structure was lost Thursday night and more remain threatened. Windy conditions Friday made fighting the fire difficult, but containment is at an estimated 25%. The fire is spreading north toward Collins Ranch.
The Flat Rock Fire, located west of town on Echeta Road, has grown to 41,839 acres, but firefighters were able to hold the line on the west side of Echeta Road on Friday, keeping multiple homes in the area from being damaged.
Single-engine air tankers and large air tanker planes have been assisting the firefighting effort on the Flat Rock Fire, and the public is asked to avoid the area to allow access to first responders. Heavy equipment from County Road and Bridge as well as private equipment are also being used to construct containment lines.
Community donations also made it to the frontlines, per the release. “Donations from the community were delivered to each of the fires today to help support the locals contributing to the suppression efforts,” Fire Marshal Stuart Burnham wrote.
Additionally, a Complex Incident Management Team has been directed into the area to respond to the complex fire situation in the county and across the border of Johnson County.
“A CIMT is a group of trained personnel that responds to large, complex incidents that require outside resources and support. This team is being brought in to manage the four large fires in Johnson County, Sheridan County, and Campbell County. This includes the Flat Rock and Constitution fires. In briefing is scheduled for tomorrow and the transfer of command will be Sunday,” Burnham wrote.
The transfer will help free up local responders and allow them the flexibility to respond to new fire starts as they occur. More information on the fires will be shared with the public as it becomes available.
