An unpredictable and dangerous wildfire continues to threaten the towns of Dayton and Parkman in northern Sheridan County near the Wyoming-Montana border.
The Elk Fire burning west and south of both communities grew to nearly 50,000 acres Wednesday, blown “in all directions” by shifting high winds. While the towns remain safe for now, they’re both still under an advisory to be ready to evacuate if the fire takes another run at them.
Add hotter-than-average temperatures and low humidity, the weather is the main obstacle in fighting the lightning-sparked blaze, said Jeff Barron, fire chief for the Tongue River Fire District-Ranchester Fire.
Now that a U.S. Forest Service incident command team is in charge of managing the coordinated attack on the Elk Fire, Barron said his volunteers and those with the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department are focused on protecting people and property.
“The weather’s going to be a factor for this whole thing, and it probably won’t be put to bed until it snows,” he told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday. “I know they’re trying their best to figure out how to put a rope around this fire.”
He also said the incident management team is doing an “excellent job” and that his department is proud to “just be a piece” of a larger team effort.
“Kudos to the employers who have allowed volunteers time away from work to man these crews,” he added. “For most of these guys, firefighting is not their day job.”
They’re part of the nearly 200 people on the fire, the U.S. Forest Service incident team reports in its latest update.
The fire has continued to grow at a fast pace, up to 49,555 acres from its previous estimate of about 32,000 acres burning in the Bighorn National Forest.
The outlook for the next three days says the fire “is expected to spread in all directions” and that southwesterly winds increase the potential for fire growth, according to the USFS update.
Besides the weather, another reason the Elk Fire is so difficult to fight is its location in some of the most rugged, inaccessible terrain in the Bighorns.
“The behavior of the fire is a reflection of the topography, the prevailing winds and the weather,” Barron said. “We’re also not seeing the relative humidity you’d normally see in October.
“Then, the wind is just pushing it in every direction.”
Nervous, But Not Panicked
All previous evacuation orders remain in place Thursday, including everyone living in the Tongue River Canyon; Pass Creek and Twin Creek roads west of Parkman; all homes from X-X Ranch north to the Montana state line; and the Horseshoe subdivision.
Dayton and Parkman residents are still at home, but are ready to leave if necessary, said Patricia Caywood, owner of the Parkman Bar and Grill.
People there are nervous, but not panicked, she said.
“We’re doing good out here,” she told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday. “Everything’s kind of tamed down for now, and the community has filled up every part of my bar, my coolers and kitchen (with donations).”
That’s because the bar has become a local rallying point for helping firefighters and their families. That includes Caywood and a couple of cooks working nearly 24/7 making at least three meals a day, plus several snacks for firefighters and their families.
Although a lot of work, Caywood said it helps keep them occupied and not think too much about the potential danger the town is in.
“Everybody’s still on edge. I know how I feel, and we’re all on edge because we’re all at Mother Nature’s beck and call,” she said. “In my opinion, everybody’s going to be on edge not only for the next several days, but weeks.”
There’s a feeling of worry throughout the area, but also resolve, she said.
“Spirits are high. People come out many times a day and help,” Caywood said. “I’m blessed to be here, and it keeps their minds off of what’s going on outside the backside of my bar.”
Equipment and personnel from the Goose Valley Fire Department in Sheridan County fighting the Elk Fire west of Dayton and Parkman. (Goose Valley Fire Department) 
About 800 people attended a meeting on the Elk Fire at Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester on Wednesday night. (U.S. Forest Service) 
About 800 people attended a meeting on the Elk Fire at Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester on Wednesday night. (U.S. Forest Service) 
The tiny speck of an air tanker can be seen against the huge smoke column from the Elk Fire. (U.S. Forest Service)
What’s Going On?
A community meeting Wednesday night with the new incident command team at Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester drew about 800 people to get firsthand information about the fire and what’s being done to fight it.
“The meeting was great, went really well. The community was super receptive,” said Jessica Brewen, a spokesperson for the team. “They were just looking to get the facts, the information we had.”
Unfortunately, much of that information is that the fire’s still growing, still not contained and that the weather is pushing it in all direction. More of the same is expected.
The topography of the burn area also is problematic, said Kristie Thompson, a spokesperson for the USFS command team. That’s because the landscape can funnel the wind in other directions, which can push the fire in unpredictable ways.
“This fire has had extreme, erratic behavior during wind events. … It jus takes it in a different direction,” she said. “And that’s what we’re exp4eting this weekend.”
Some good news is that there are 13 aerial assets “directly attached to this fire,” Thompson said. “And that does not include air tanker support.”
Gov. Mark Gordon also was at Wednesday’s meeting to talk with the locals, telling them the state is ready and willing to help however it can.
“This is really personal to me,” he said. “You guys know how tough that terrain is.”
He also said that this “has been a hell of a year” for wildfires around Wyoming, with going on 700,000 acres burned.
The House Draw Fire that burned about 175,000 acres in Johnson County was “just east of my place in Buffalo,” Gordon said. “I know how this goes and I know how desperate it can seem at times. I also know how it can take a long time to recover.”
The explosive fire season has already blown through the entire two-year state firefighting budget, which just began in July, he said.
“Let’s just hope and pray for a big snowstorm,” he concluded.
Until that comes, the U.S. Forest Service teams and local volunteer firefighters will continue to protect people, property and build fire lines.
And as long as Caywood and the folks in Parkman make meals and breakfast burritos, firefighters and their families will appreciate it, Barron said.
Besides, those breakfast burritos “are fantastic,” he said. “I’d definitely would eat them again. Big shout-out to the Parkman Bar.”
Contact Greg Johnson at greg@cowboystatedaily.com
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
