Elk Fire Consumes Buildings Near Dayton as Residents Rally to Protect Homes

Residents along the eastern front of the Bighorn Mountains are facing the impact of the 32,000-acre Elk Fire, which has destroyed six outbuildings, injured one firefighter, and led to the closure of Highway 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction.

The fire, which began on September 28 due to a lightning strike in the Bighorn National Forest, has consumed barns, outhouses, and other non-primary residential structures, according to Sheridan emergency officials. Fortunately, the injuries sustained by the firefighter are not life-threatening.

Fueled by high winds, the Elk Fire has rapidly spread through a 15-by-6-mile area of forested mountains and hills. Evacuation notices have been issued to residents in several areas as approximately 200 firefighters work to safeguard homes and structures.

Rick Clark, a resident about five miles west of Dayton, described the situation as challenging.

“I’ve been up the last two nights getting ready to get out of here… It just seems to be a perpetual fire; every time the wind shifts, it goes somewhere else, and that area ends up being evacuated,”he said.

Cathy Wallace shared her experience as her husband Mark worked overnight to protect their property along the Tongue River Canyon.

“I think the firefighters saved everything on our road, for now,” she said after evacuating to a relative’s home in nearby Ranchester.

The Elk Fire has significantly impacted the community, with residents feeling a mix of anxiety and helplessness as they monitor the advancing flames. Some individuals have managed to return to their homes only to discover that they had been spared from the destruction.

Laura Eaton, a rancher south of Dayton, recounted her family’s experience as the fire moved rapidly through the area.

“Driving into the ranch, it looks really bad… I was pretty sure it had all been wiped out,” she wrote.

However, she was relieved to find that all their buildings had been spared.

“I feel like the only reason we were spared is because of all the positive energy that has been sent our way,” she stated.

As the fire continues to threaten homes and properties, country music artist Ian Munsick, a local resident, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support rural fire departments involved in fighting the fire.

“We have to do our part in helping them, because we physically couldn’t be there helping,” he said.

Currently, the Elk Fire remains active and has spread to nearly 73,000 acres. Weather conditions have hindered firefighting efforts, with dry winds and low humidity expected to persist. There are around 600 personnel working on containment efforts, creating breaks and lines around the fire while managing fuels in safer areas.

As of now, no new evacuation orders have been issued, and previously mandated evacuations remain in effect for several areas around Dayton, including the Horseshoe subdivision and Tongue River Canyon. For the latest updates, the US Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest and Sheridan County Government Facebook pages provide current information regarding the Elk Fire.

With input from Oil City News, Sheridan Media, and Cowboy State Daily.