People in the potential path of an out-of-control wildfire that’s scorching its way across northwest Sheridan County may not be able to get to church services Sunday, but are doing plenty of praying.
It’s the same prayers they’ve been offering up for a week since the Elk Fire that began with a lightning strike southeast of Dayton blew up overnight last Sunday — and has continued to blow up since. After starting Saturday at more than 62,000 acres, the fire was last estimated Saturday afternoon at 76,000 acres and adjusted to 72,998 Sunday morning.
For those who’ve evacuated or been told to be ready to leave their homes, there’s a feeling of helplessness and fear at having to watch the flames and smoke advance without being able to do anything.
Chad Flanagan, a lifelong Dayton resident, told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday that it’s simply “heartbreaking” to see the face of the Bighorn Mountains that used to stand over the town like a protector instead glow orange with wildfire.
Others haven’t been so lucky.
The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office reports it’s confirmed at least two primary residences in the Horseshoe subdivision have burned, while the list of areas that have been evacuated has grown almost as fast as the fire.
There are some inspiring stories of hope emerging from the area as well.
A stunning photograph shared by the Wyoming Department of Transportation from a worker at Burgess Junction on the southwest side of the fire shows the successful efforts of firefighters to save a home. It stands unscathed as an island surrounded by a sea of black.
In the wake of the fire’s spread, some people have returned expecting to find their homes destroyed only to find miracles instead.
Laura Eaton, who lives on a ranch in Wolf south of Dayton, posted about her family’s miracle to Facebook.
“The fire moved an incredible distance last night and blew through the mountains and foothills around the ranch in about three or four hours,” she wrote.
Blown by “insanely high” winds that gusted more than 60 mph, she said the fire was about 2 miles north of the ranch at about 10 p.m. Friday, then by 7 a.m. was “already about 4-5 miles south of us, (and) the ranch is about 6 miles long … along the mountains.”
She expected the worst when returning Saturday.
“Driving into the ranch, it looks really bad,” she wrote. “The majority of the lower elevations seem unaffected, but the face of the mountains, South and North Red Canyons and the hill along Gentry Field by the race track have been hit hard.
“Driving up the ranch road and seeing all black around the hollow where the main part of the ranch is located, I was preparing for the worst. I was pretty sure it had all been wiped out.”
The Miracle
Instead, like that WYDOT worker, she found her home had been spared.
“Amazingly, all of the buildings have been spared,” she wrote, adding how grateful the family is to the firefighters working to protect people and property. “Of course, we have so many individuals who have put in the hours on the ground to be thankful for.”
But there’s another reason for the miracle of the Elk Fire not burning the ranch to the ground, Eaton wrote.
“Even with all the effort put into prevention and actively fighting the fire, with the conditions last night, I feel like the only reason we were spared is because of all the positive energy that has been sent our way,” she posted. “So thank you, all of you, for your love and prayers.”
Also devastated at how the fire is impacting where he calls home is country music star Ian Munsick, who grew up in the area.
“That’s my childhood right there,” Munsick told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday. “And when I write music, those are the mountains that inspired me the most.”
Munsick has been heartsick seeing the homes and towns he loves threatened by fire. That prompted him to start a GoFundMe campaign, The Elk Fire Relief Fund, to help all the rural fire departments involved in fighting the fire.
He even kicked it off with a little donation of his own — $15,000 from himself and $15,000 from his wife, Caroline.
“We have to do our part in helping them, because we physically couldn’t be there helping,” Munsick said. “It’s been pretty crazy to see the small community just rally behind this. And we have raised quite a bit of money in the last 12 hours, which is pretty cool to see.”
The fund has already exceeded the initial goal of $50,000 and had topped $76,000 by Sunday morning. Munsick was pleased, but not surprised to see the fund grow so quickly.
That’s just the Wyoming that he knows and loves, where there’s always a cowboy ready to lend a hand.
Still Growing
Now at nearly 73,000 acres, the fire remains “extremely active,” the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team in charge of battling the Elk Fire reports Sunday morning.
The weather also isn’t helping, with a cold front bringing dry winds and low humidity, which is blowing the fire in multiple directions. And there isn't much relief on the way from the weather.
“Sunday is the beginning of a warming and drying trend as high pressure builds over the region,” the update says, although it’s expected to be less windy.
There are nearly 600 people working to build breaks and lines around the fire, as well as clear out or burn any fuels within where safe to do so.
No new evacuations were ordered overnight Saturday, and none were lifted. Those area ordered to leave are:
• The area within Eaton's Ranch Road to the intersection of Beckton Road, then south to Big Goose Road and west to Rapid Creek.
• Little Horn Canyon
• Eaton’s Ranch.
• Tongue River Canyon.
• Pass Creek and Twin Creek roads west of Parkman.
• All homes from X-X Ranch north to the Montana state line.
• Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton where the road turns to dirt.
• The Horseshoe subdivision.
• Homes west of Beckton Road from Dayton south to the intersection of Beckton and Eaton • Ranch roads.
• Eagle Ridge subdivision and homes directly east of U.S. Highway 14 up the mountain.
Along with Dayton now on “set” status, so are:
• South of Twin Creek Road from Parkman north of Amsden Road; also west of Highway 343, including along Smith Creek and Columbus Creek roads.
• Homes east of Tongue Canyon and Amsden roads.
The best and most current information about the Elk Fire is being posted to the U.S. Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest and Sheridan County Government Facebook pages.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
