People evacuated on both sides of the Wyoming-Montana border in the path of the Short Draw Fire are allowed to go home again after several harrowing days of wind-blown flames burning through ranchland.
Unfortunately for some, there aren’t places to go home to anymore.
While officials fighting the 40,000-acre fire haven’t yet come up with a detailed tally of homes, buildings and livestock lost to the blaze that’s been burning since Wednesday about 30 miles north of Gillette and into Montana, there are multiple reports of people having lost their homes.
One of those families is Cheyenne and Jesse Raymond, who posted to Facebook about returning to find their home destroyed by the wildfire.
“I just can’t believe it’s really GONE!!!” Cheyenne posted to her public page, followed by a pair of crying emojis. “This is one of the hardest things I have ever been through, and to see my kids lose everything, not just MYSELF, but my KIDS is the hardest part.”
While devastated, she also expressed gratitude that her family and animals are safe, even as they are literally left with the clothes on their backs.
“I am just glad I got all our inside animals, and the kids were at school,” she posted. “LUCKILY when I had to leave, when I looked out the kitchen window and could see the smoke and flames.
“It was so scary, I was really hoping OUR house would make it, but we lost everything!!!”
She also posted photos of the burned house and property.
“We will always have the memories, and looking back at the pictures on my phone from inside the house, I burst into tears,” Cheyenne continued in her post. “The kids even said I thought we would have that house FOREVER!! This is all that’s left of our HOME. We lost so much in that house.”
One of the Raymonds work at a Big D convenience store, prompting coworkers to start a donation drive for the family at the six Big D stress in Gillette. Along with a donation jar at each of the stores, they’ll accept clothing:
• For dad: Men’s size 12 shoes and 3xl clothing.
• For mom: Women’s size 7.5 shoes and xl clothing.
• For daughter: Size 8 women’s shoes and junior medium clothing.
• Son No. 1: Large men’s clothing and size 4 shoes.
• Son No. 2: Size 5 shoes and kids’ size 8 clothing.
There also have been other reports of homes lost, along with multiple outbuildings.
Smoke billows up from the Short Draw Fire burning about 30 miles north of Gillette in northern Wyoming and southern Montana. (National Interagency Fire Center) 
The Yoder Volunteer Fire Department is one of many agencies that have responded to help fight the Short Draw Fire. (Yoder Volunteer Fire Department) 
As evacuation orders are lifted, some people in the path of the Short Draw Fire are returning to find their homes gone. That was the case for Cheyenne and Jesse Raymond, who posted to Facebook about the devastation of finding their home had burned. (Cheyenne Raymond via Facebook) 
As evacuation orders are lifted, some people in the path of the Short Draw Fire are returning to find their homes gone. That was the case for Cheyenne and Jesse Raymond, who posted to Facebook about the devastation of finding their home had burned. (Cheyenne Raymond via Facebook) 
(Cowboy State Daily Staff)
Meanwhile, The Fire …
With an evacuation notice for residents in the Montana side of the fire and evacuation order for those on the Wyoming side lifted at about 5 p.m. Saturday, firefighting agencies are reporting some progress fighting the Short Draw Fire.
There are conflicting reports on just how much grass, timber and sagebrush the fire has consumed, with the Wyoming State Division of Forestry putting it at about 35,200 acres and the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) at about 40,000 acres, the latest report Saturday night puts the fire at about 27% contained. That’s an improvement over 0% reported since the fire started Wednesday.
While just how the fire started remains under investigation, reports from multiple agencies give insight into how much control they’re gaining over the incident so far.
“Currently, the Short Draw Fire has a line all the way around it,” reports the Powder River County Sheriff’s Office in southern Montana. “Crews continue to work diligently to fight ongoing hot spots.
“On the Wyoming border, crews are fighting the areas that continue to be a problem.”
The agency also posted a short video of the view of the fire area from a helicopter, showing large black spaces where grasslands used to be, along with plenty of smoke.
There are 228 personnel fighting the fire, the NIFC reports, and it remains “active.”
While an aerial attack continues with planes and helicopters dropping fire retardant and water on the fire, a lot of work is being done on the ground to cut fire lines and put out hotspots, the NIFC reports.
“Hand crews, engine crews and dozers are reinforcing control lines around the north, east and west sides of the fire perimeter,” according to the agency’s latest report. “Crews will be patrolling and working into the interior from these liens to suppress hotspots, ensuring the fire doesn’t cross them.
“Helicopters and aircraft have been vital in keeping the edge of the fire from spreading by providing water bucket and retardant drops.”
It also reports that the southern part of the fire area in Wyoming continues to be a problem and that “structure protection efforts are ongoing.”
Other Fires
• The Bear Creek Fire in west-central Albany County in southern Wyoming has remained at about the same size as previously reported at 1,432 acres and is 20% contained, the WSFD reports.
• The Fish Creek Fire continues to be a tough nut to crack. Burning for a month, it’s consumed nearly 25,000 acres in Bridger-Teton National Forest and is 69% complete as of Sunday morning. At more than one point it had come close to the historic Brooks Lake Lodge, but the lodge and nearby rural subdivisions have remained safe.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
