The Buffalo Wildfire that started July 24 due to lightening 31 miles southwest of Broadus, MT has spread into Campbell County, WY. A Type 3 Incident Command team has the 3,020 acre fire 95 percent contained at last report from fire managers Sunday.
The fire has destroyed no structures and portions continue to smolder, “but containment lines around the fire are near completion.” Crews will continue mop-up efforts as they extinguish hotspots and work to ensure the fire line is secure.
Complete InciWeb data sheet and update can be found here
“The chance of thunderstorms continues throughout the afternoon and evening for the next few days,” the Campbell County Fire Department reports. “Temperatures generally will remain hot, in the 90 to 95 degree range, and relative humidity values will likely drop as low at 15 percent.”
Leadership on the fire has transitioned from Tom Kurth’s Type I Alaska Incident Management Team to a Type 3 organization (Turner’s team) as of 6 a.m. today; mop-up and patrol of the fire will continue. Many engines, crews, dozers and overhead have been released from the fire with more to be released today and tomorrow.
Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fires.
Pilots looking for more information on the TFR, it can be found here
The objective is to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. The public is reminded that it is illegal to operate drones within a TFR.
Fire Restrictions: In southeastern Montana Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place due to dry, hot conditions, which could lead to wildfires caused by human activity. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions ban all campfires except for in developed recreation sites, fire rings or improved sites. They also prohibit smoking, except in enclosed vehicles or buildings, at developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
More information on fire restrictions can be found here
“Due to the extreme fire danger Campbell County, Wyo. is currently experiencing, the Campbell County Fire Department Chief requested the commissioners adopt a resolution restricting open burning. The resolution took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 7, and will remain in place until weather conditions have sufficiently changed to a reduced risk of wildland fires. The resolution puts in place a partial closure of outdoor fires in unimproved areas, defined as cropland, agricultural land and undeveloped land which predominately remains in its natural forested or range condition.”
More information on Campbell County’s open burn ban can be found here
The Stallions Fire in the Bittercreek area 45 miles north of Gillette, Wyo. is the only fire in Campbell County that continues.
At 3,107 acres,the Campbell County Fire Department reports approximately 150 firefighters “from CCFD, BLM, USFS, CC Road and Bridge, 1 Worland engine, Wyoming Hotshots, Alpine Hotshots, Devils Canyon Hotshots, smoke jumpers, San Isabel crew, smokebuster, crew, and numerous air support continue battling the fire."
The Coon Track Creek Fire that started on Monday July 24 south of Rozet is 100 percent contained. Additional mop-up was completed Wed., and “the fire area will continue to be monitored for several days for any hotspots that may pop up,” according to the Campbell County Fire Department August 2017 Newsletter. “This fire burned just under 400 acres. It was initially believed to be larger, but the size was corrected after more accurate mapping from a helicopter.”
Active fires north of Wyoming in Musselshell County, Mont.:
