For the first time in more than a week, residents of Dayton in northern Wyoming are making plans to stay in their homes rather than leave them ahead of an advancing wildfire.
As crews continue to make progress establishing some boundaries around the Elk Fire, which has burned nearly 75,000 acres across the eastern face of the Bighorn Mountains, the evacuation status of the 850 or so residents of the town was downgraded Monday.
It’s an emotional boost for the town that has watched the mountain above it burn black through clouds of smoke during the day and glow orange at night.
“We’re definitely doing a lot better in the Dayton area than we were Saturday morning,” said Chad Flanagan, a lifelong Dayton resident. “We almost evacuated Saturday morning, and we could see that eerie glow from the mountain. We almost got out of here.”
But more favorable weather conditions, especially more calm winds, have allowed the 830 firefighters and support personnel with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team and local crews take a more offensive approach to the Elk Fire.
The fire is now listed at 10% contained and some evacuation orders are being lifted or downgraded.
While it’s still a dangerous and potentially volatile situation, the emotional roller coaster of locals is on the descent again, Flanagan said.
“We feel much better. The wind has calmed down and it doesn’t look like there’s any imminent threat to Dayton,” he told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday. “We’ve decided to stay — cautiously.”
And for the first time in a week, people are starting to think about unpacking their vehicles under threat of evacuation.
Standing outside his home Tuesday, Flanagan said he couldn’t see the mountain because of the smoke the fire is still putting off.
Even with all that smoke, “we’re all breathing and sleeping easier now, at least here in Dayton.”
‘These Guys Are Heroes’
Not ready to sleep easier, at least not yet, are people living southeast of Dayton. The fire is basically following the face of the Bighorns that direction, threatening homes and ranches in its path.
So far, a pair of homes in the Horseshoe subdivision are the only primary residences confirmed lost to the Elk Fire. One of the area’s most prominent spreads, the Eaton Ranch, was spared.
In photos and posts to Facebook, the ranch reports how the fire burned around the ranch overnight Friday and early Saturday during its huge run. One aerial photo shows the ranch buildings untouched with scorched land all around, some still smoking.
Also visible is a large purple swath across the ground where air tankers had dropped slurry the afternoon before to help protect the ranch.
Efforts like those and the local volunteers on the ground protecting property and people haven’t gone unnoticed by their neighbors, Flanagan said.
“I don’t think there’s words to express the heartfelt appreciation and gratitude we have for every one of these men and women who have fought tirelessly to protect these communities,” said Flanagan. “These guys are heroes in my mind.”
His father Mike was a volunteer firefighter for “20 or 30 years,” so he appreciates the sacrifices they make.
“They’re volunteers, and they do this not because they’re being paid, it’s because of the love of their own community and town,” he said. “They’re away from their families and their lives are in danger.”
If those two Horseshoe subdivision homes are all that are lost, “it would be very amazing,” Flanagan said.
It seems others in the area feel the same, as people are making large signs and posting along the roads thanking firefighters.
This is the area where lightning has been confirmed to have started the Elk Fire. (U.S. Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest) 
Firefighters are nearby to fight the Elk Fire all around its perimiter and interior, where accessible. (Tongue River Fire District-Ranchester Fire) 
A herd of cows is pushed past the command camp for the Elk Fire with plenty of smoke in the air. (U.S. Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest) 
The small, rural Wyoming town of Dayton can only watch and pray as the Elk Fire burns across the mountain face of the Bighorns above. (Photo by Chad Flanagan, Lifelong Dayton Resident)
Not Back To Normal
While the fire isn’t threatening Dayton or Parkman to the north as it had been, the entire region is far from being back to normal.
But one sign that it’s still rural Wyoming came Monday when a ranch ran its cattle herd down the road right past the incident command center, which posted a video.
“Start your day the Wyoming way,” the post says. “Firefighters certainly did that Monday, as a cattle drive worked its way right past our fire camp.”
Also notable news reported Monday was that the cause of the fire has been verified as a Sept. 27 lightning strike, putting to bed some unsupported online speculation that the U.S. Forest Service started the Elk Fire with a controlled burn.
“A certified fire investigator was helicoptered into the area where the fire started, and it has been confirmed that the cause was indeed lightning,” the incident management team reports on the U.S. Forest Service Facebook page.
It includes a photo of the area where the lightning strike happened, including a tree that was apparently hit and scorched to the ground through the trunk of the tree like a corkscrew.
The latest Elk Fire updated posted to the inciweb wildfire website shows the fire at 74,685 acres and 10% contained. It was active on the western side of the fire Monday.
It’s also putting out a lot of smoke, which is being caried as far southeast as Cheyenne.
“The Elk Fire was actively putting up smoke in multiple area during the heat of the day,” according to an incident team report. “To assist firefighters on the ground, there were 18 air resources, such as helicopters and air tankers, being utilized on this incident (Monday).”
Going forward, crews are working to build control lines to help manage the fire, including burning out enclaves within the fire’s perimeter to give it less chance to flare up.
Throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday, the Elk Fire is expected to see moderate growth in timber, “but will be most active from around noon to late evening,” the incident team reports.
"The southern part of the fire is a top priority for firefighting efforts today, as crews take actions to protect surrounding communities," the incident management team reports Tuesday.
Those areas include the Big Goose watershed and structures in the Big Goose drainage. Also, no civilian traffic is allowed on Red Grde Road as heavy equipment is moved to fight the fire.
It’s been a nerve-wracking and emotionally draining experience for those living near the fire, Flanagan said.
“The last 72 hours or so have been quite the experience. You’re tired and running on very little sleep. It’s been a harrowing time for all involved,” he said, adding that at least for now, “We’re all breathing and sleeping a little easier now, at least here in Dayton.”
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.
Another community meeting on the Elk Fire is set for 7 p.m. at Big Horn High School.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
