Two fires that started a little more than two hours apart in two parts of Wyoming over the weekend have scorched approximately 2,000 acres including federal BLM land.
The fires are the latest wallop to Wyoming, which has endured an abnormally dry, warm and windy winter.
The Scotts Bottom Fire
The Scotts Bottom fire was reported just before 5 p.m. Saturday. Forty-two firefighters from multiple departments including the Green River Fire Department, Rock Springs Wildland Firefighters and Sweetwater County Fire District responded to the blaze, which threatened a beloved nature preserve inside the Green River city limits.
Horses housed in corrals were turned loose, said Steve Core, spokesman for the city of Green River. One horse broke its leg trying to escape and had to be euthanized, he said.
A total of 40 acres were scorched. Eight to 10 corrals sustained fire damage, as did three homes on private land, Core said. Structures belonging to the city of Green River, including a gazebo, a red archery barn and a playground survived the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, but Core said it was human caused.
Calls and emails to the Green River Fire Department were not returned before publication.
Scotts Bottom burn area on Monday, March 23, 2026 (Courtesy: Steve Core, City of Green River) 
In fire's aftermath, the archery barn still stands (Courtesy: Steve Core, City of Green River) 
Scorched area in Scotts Bottom Fire in Green River (Courtesy: Steve Core, City of Green River) 
Green River Fire Dept putting out hot spots on Monday at the Scotts Bottom Fire (Courtesy: Steve Core, City of Green River)
Core said the Green River Fire Department requested air support from Denver, but the Denver air support team declined to come because the team does not fly at night, when the help was requested.
Three factors made fighting the fire challenging: extremely dry vegetation, high winds and lack of access to water, Core said.
“We had a pretty good wind blowing out of the west,” Core said. “The winds just fanned the fire.”
Access to water proved critical, as there are no fire hydrants in the nature preserve.
Twice firetrucks had to leave the fire to drive up a hill to the nearest fire hydrant to fetch more water, Core said. The city of Green River also deployed a massive water truck to the scene.
Horse owners were allowed back into the area early afternoon Sunday to retrieve their horses, said Core. The Green River Fire Department on Monday continued to put out hot spots.
Community Turnout
Scores of community members showed up as the fire blazed, prompting the Wyoming Highway Patrol to keep onlookers at bay.
“There were a lot of people down there,” Core said. “When there is a fire, people watch.”
Green River resident Rachael Cummings said she had a feeling it was going to be a long night for firefighters. She sent a message to Nancy Rider, Green River Fire Department social media coordinator and videographer, to ask if the firefighters needed food. She told Cowboy State Daily she worked with her pastor, The Rev. Clint Scott of The Hill Church, to order Subway sandwiches for the fire crew.
Scott delivered the sandwiches on his side-by-side.
“We pride ourselves on being the first ones to respond to our first responders,” Scott told Cowboy State Daily. “What we did is we foot the bill for Subway. We ordered 5 platters of sandwiches. My wife and I got on our side-by -side and we delivered the sandwiches.”
“It was just one of those things where you just do what needs to be done,” he said.
The community loves its volunteer firefighters, according to Core.
“This community has always just stepped up when it comes to our volunteer firefighters,” Core said. “The response never surprises me. They’re the rock stars of our community.”
According to a media statement shared by the Green River Fire Department, messages began pouring in shortly after the fire broke out, from community members asking how they could help and what they could donate to support first responders.
“Food and drinks were quickly dropped off at the fire station, and our team worked to transport those items to all of the agencies responding to the fire,” the statement reads.
“Green River by and large is a wonderful community,” Scott said. “Everybody’s interconnected.”
Kane Fire near Lovell on Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Courtesy: Wendy Corr) 
Kane Fire near Lovell on Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Courtesy: Wendy Corr) 
Kane Fire near Lovell on Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Courtesy: Wendy Corr) 
Kane Fire near Lovell on Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Courtesy: Wendy Corr) 
Kane Fire near Lovell on Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Courtesy: Wendy Corr)
Kane Fire
Meanwhile, a wildfire near Lovell was reported at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The cause remains undetermined, according to the Wyoming State Forestry Division website.
“We haven’t determined (the cause) for sure,” agreed Lovell Fire Chief Zach Blain.
As of Monday afternoon, the fire had grown to 1,943 acres. Blain said the fire was about 10% contained.
Blain said the Lovell Fire Department did an initial attack on the blaze and worked for 30 hours over the weekend. The fire was then turned over to a Type 3 wildfire incident management team.
Late Sunday afternoon a helicopter dropped buckets of water on the fire, Blain said.
Burn restrictions were in place due to dry, warm and windy conditions in Big Horn County. A media post from the Big Horn County Fire Warden reads, “Please no burning. Our firefighters are spread thin and are all tired.”
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
