While progress is being reported on efforts to fight the 175,000-acre House Draw Fire burning in Johnson County, Wyoming, another huge wildfire nearby continues to grow at a frightening rate.
The Remington Fire that started in northern Wyoming then ran north into Montana has grown to an estimated nearly 185,000 acres and remains 0% contained, the Wyoming State Forestry Division reports.
Overnight Friday, the Remington Fire had exploded from about 18,000 acres to nearly 130,000, and now is about 42% larger again overnight Saturday. About 30,000 of those acres burned are in Wyoming; the rest wind-driven miles into Montana.
Including other noteworthy events in the northern Wyoming-southern Montana region, wildfires have burned more than 430,000 acres.
Reports from the area devastated by the fire have been stark and shocking.
Rancher Pat Dennis from Ashland, Montana, reported that “cattle losses are very high” after the fire’s terrifying run overnight Friday, including animals that had been caught and killed by the flames.
“Everywhere I look here is devastation,” he posted to his Facebook page. “Ranchers in the path of this fire are having a tough time.”
Another observer described what she saw taking some food out to a family member impacted by the fire.
“What a devastation,” Mary Ann Oedekoven posted. “The Remington Fire, 128,000-plus (acres) the fire has burned — the loss of livestock is awful and so sad. God, please help contain these fires and give us a rain.”
While the death toll of livestock won’t be known for awhile, it’s likely heavy. And as worrisome for ranchers is how those animals that survived will be fed through the winter now that much — if not all — of the hay and forage has burned.
“Livestock losses are devastating and they will continue as containment is 0%,” according to a report from the group Wildfire and Disaster Relief Ag Community. “Ranchers are going to need help as their feed going into winter is now gone and fences are destroyed.”
The financial losses also are mounting at other nearby businesses, like the Tongue River Marina, which has shut down several times this summer in response to wildfires. The owners told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday that the financial devastation is as real as the physical impacts of wildfire.
The Southwest Area Incident Management Team No. 5 has taken over operations of the four large fires in Wyoming's northeast region: the Flat Rock and Constitution in Campbell County, the Remington Fire in Sheridan County and Montana, and the House Draw Fire in Johnson County. Meanwhile, the Northern Rockies Command Incident Management Team 1 is responsible for managing the 10,600-acre Fish Creek Fire off of Togwotee Pass in the northwest.
Here’s a county-by-county rundown of notable wildfires in northern Wyoming and southern Montana:
A plane drops fire retardant slurry on one of the large Campbell County, Wyoming, wildfires. (Campbell County Fire Department) 
The internal weather created by the Remington Fire manifests with fire whirlwind behavior. (Autumn G Wallowing Bull via TikTok @m_307reinke) 
On the fire lines battling the Remington Fire. (Dayton Volunteer Fire and Rescue) 
Some of the aftermath of where the Remington Fire has bruned through southern Montana. (Rosebud County Sheriff's Office) 
Some of the aftermath of where the Remington Fire has bruned through southern Montana. (Rosebud County Sheriff's Office) 
The internal weather created by the Remington Fire manifests with fire whirlwind behavior. (Autumn G Wallowing Bull via TikTok @m_307reinke) 
On the fire lines battling the Remington Fire. (Dayton Volunteer Fire and Rescue) 
On the fire lines battling the Remington Fire. (Dayton Volunteer Fire and Rescue)
Campbell County
The Flat Rock and Constitution fires continue to cast a thick layer of smoke over Gillette, but haven’t grown much Saturday, remaining about the same size and containment.
The Flat Rock Fire was estimated at 41,839 acres late Sunday, according to Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5, which has taken over firefighting coordination for all four major fires in Wyoming's northeast region. that fire is at about 35% containment.
The Constitution Fire was down by roughly half Sunday evening to 12,090 acres, the team reported.
Air tankers and helicopters deployed Saturday, which helped with containment, says a Sunday statement by the Campbell County Fire Department.
The Flat Rock Fire off Echeta Road involves a more home-dense area. Some structures have been damaged and others are threatened. Campbell County Road and Bridge and private heavy equipment rigs have helped build fire break lines around each fire, according to the Campbell County Fire Department.
In response to some community questioning about the deployment of local firefighting resources, the Campbell County Fire Department explained how it prioritizes and deploys resources when faced with having to fight 34 fires in the past 30 days.
Sometimes it means working to contain rather than knock down, the department says, adding that “nationwide, resource drawdowns are at a critical level. When these (Flat Rock and Constitution) fires started, we were immediately competing with five large fires within the state for additional resources.”
It also acknowledges a generous outpouring of support and donations from the community.
Johnson County
Measuring about 40 miles in length from north to south and crossing Interstate 90 in Johnson County, the House Draw Fire has held at about 174,448 acres as of Sunday evening.
Close to 200 people are fighting this fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
A lot of progress was made on this fire Saturday, which went into the day at about 25% contained, but is now about 88% contained as of Sunday morning, the WSFD reports. Firefighters are focusing Sunday on securing fire lines, mopping up hot spots and patrolling, plus cleaning up unburned islands of fuel within the fire perimeter, Tyson Finnicum, incident spokesman, told Cowboy State Daily.
It’s difficult to know the extent of the loss to area ranchers and wildlife herds. One sheep rancher in the southern area of the fire described trying to save his flock and those of his neighbors.
Victor Goni described the area as a “war zone,” and that the speed of its growth was amazing.
“It blew my mind that the wind had switched just like that,” he told Cowboy State Daily reporter Pat Maio.
Sheridan County-Southern Montana
As reported above, the Remington Fire is now measured at 184,127 acres and is 0% contained as of Sunday evening. About 30,000 of those acres are in Wyoming with the rest running north into southern Montana.
About 100 firefighters are on this fire, along with air support and a significant local firefighting presence, according to multiple reports.
Several Montana emergency response agencies have issued wildfire warnings and evacuation notices for a situation that is unpredictable and volatile.
Just west of the Remington Fire is the Barber Draw fire, a 6,700-acre blaze that’s about 30% contained. This fire has closed the nearby Tongue River Marina.
Teton And Fremont Counties
The Fish Creek Fire near the Teton-Fremont county line off of Togwotee Pass remains at an estimated 10,600 acres and is 0% contained, with voluntary evacuations still in place in the Brooks Lake Road, Pinnacle Drive, Pinnacle Lane and Breccia Drive areas.
A few miles southwest is the Leeds Creek Fire, which is about 90% contained and 780 acres, the WSFD reports.
Both fires are burning in rugged, difficult to access areas and consuming conifer and heavy dead and downed fuels.
Incident spokesman Chris Joyner, of the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, said about 343 people are fighting this fire. Personnel are clearing out debris, installing sprinklers near the Brooks Lake Lodge and supplying them with water tenders. The fire has not crossed Highway 26 and is about two kilometers away. However, the bulk of the fire activity is not near the highway, said Joyner.
The team may do some small back burning operations Sunday, but no major burning operations.
"We are staffing Highway 26 very heavily to keep that fire on the existing side of the road," said Joyner.
Governor's Hand
Gov. Mark Gordon has marshaled resources to fight the five largest Wyoming fires, with a focus on preservation of life, property, and fire containment, says a statement Gordon dispatched Friday.
“Confronting fires of this size and battling against Mother Nature’s forces takes significant dedication from those on the frontlines. Thank you to all who are fighting these fires – both volunteer and full-time firefighters – you are protecting our livelihoods, homes, and landscapes,” Governor Gordon said. “Jennie and I send our prayers to everyone impacted.”
Gordon has provided a Wyoming State Forestry helicopter and helitrack firefighters, two single engine air tankers, the Wyoming Smokebusters, and numerous state staff to provide operational and administrative support, says his statement.
The state is cooperating with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, which are providing aviation resources, including:
• Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs)
• Large Air Tankers (LATs)
• Single Engine Air tankers (SEATs)
• Scooper planes
State personnel are also coordinating with local fire districts and emergency workers; state, federal and county engines; and county and private dozers and blades.
The National Guard is standing by to help if needed for evacuations, road closures, or other health and safety matters stemming from the fires.
“Due to federal restrictions, all federal, state, and county firefighting resources must be exhausted before National Guard firefighting resources can be requested,” says the statement.
Gordon concurred with the analysis of Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day, reporting that an excess of moisture in 2023 led to the extra vegetation that is now fueng the fires in a much drier year.
Other fires throughout the West are spreading firefighting resources thin.
Along with the five largest fires, many smaller fires are not 100% contained, says the statement.
Currently, Wyoming is experiencing an average number of wildfires but an above average amount of acres burned. Last year was a well-below average fire season, due to the above average amount of moisture. In 2024 to date, Wyoming has had 522 wildfires that have burned approximately 327,700 acres. Unique to this fire season is the fact that the majority of the wildfires have burned on private rather than federal lands, the statement says.
Gordon’s statement says Wyoming will focus on recovery efforts and bring in all available resources once the fires are contained. Federal partners will aid in this recovery; the USDA is offering disaster assistance to help private landowners and producers cover loss and recovery. To be eligible for recovery, producers are required to document losses. Additional recovery resources are being identified. The Legislature may consider what additional aid or support the state will provide to those impacted.
This story has been updated to reflect acreage estimate changes in a Sunday-evening release by Southwest Incident Management Team 5.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
