Wyoming has a massive
loss of livestock due to the current fires in the state
The Antlers Ranch near Meeteetse has been in the same family since 1895, but now is for sale. The legacy ranch is an example of Wyoming ranchers and…
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The Remington Fire that started in northern Wyoming and ran into Montana exploded again overnight Saturday and Sunday to nearly 200,000 acres. Including…
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While progress is being reported on efforts to fight the 175,000-acre House Draw Fire burning in Johnson County, Wyoming, another huge wildfire nearby continues to grow at a frightening rate.
The Remington Fire that started in northern Wyoming then ran north into Montana has grown to an estimated nearly 185,000 acres and remains 0% contained, the Wyoming State Forestry Division reports.
Overnight Friday, the Remington Fire had exploded from about 18,000 acres to nearly 130,000, and now is about 42% larger again overnight Saturday. About 30,000 of those acres burned are in Wyoming; the rest wind-driven miles into Montana.
Including other noteworthy events in the northern Wyoming-southern Montana region, wildfires have burned more than 430,000 acres.
Reports from the area devastated by the fire have been stark and shocking.
Rancher Pat Dennis from Ashland, Montana,
reported that “cattle losses are very high” after the fire’s terrifying run overnight Friday, including animals that had been caught and killed by the flames.
“Everywhere I look here is devastation,” he posted to his Facebook page. “Ranchers in the path of this fire are having a tough time.”
Another observer described what she saw taking some food out to a family member impacted by the fire.
“What a devastation,” Mary Ann Oedekoven posted.
“The Remington Fire, 128,000-plus (acres) the fire has burned — the loss of livestock is awful and so sad. God, please help contain these fires and give us a rain.”
While the death toll of livestock won’t be known for awhile, it’s likely heavy. And as worrisome for ranchers is how those animals that survived will be fed through the winter now that much — if not all — of the hay and forage has burned.
“Livestock losses are devastating and they will continue as containment is 0%,” according to a report from the group Wildfire and Disaster Relief Ag Community. “Ranchers are going to need help as their feed going into winter is now gone and fences are destroyed.”
The financial losses also are mounting at other nearby businesses, like the Tongue River Marina, which has shut down several times this summer in response to wildfires. The owners told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday that the financial devastation is as real as the physical impacts of wildfire.
The Southwest Area Incident Management Team No. 5 has taken over operations of the four large fires in Wyoming's northeast region: the Flat Rock and Constitution in Campbell County, the Remington Fire in Sheridan County and Montana, and the House Draw Fire in Johnson County. Meanwhile, the Northern Rockies Command Incident Management Team 1 is responsible for managing the 10,600-acre Fish Creek Fire off of Togwotee Pass in the northwest.
Here’s a county-by-county rundown of notable wildfires in northern Wyoming and southern Montana:
Skipping down
Johnson County
Measuring about 40 miles in length from north to south and crossing Interstate 90 in Johnson County, the House Draw Fire has held at about 174,448 acres as of Sunday evening.
Close to 200 people are fighting this fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
A lot of progress was made on this fire Saturday, which went into the day at about 25% contained, but is now about 88% contained as of Sunday morning, the WSFD reports. Firefighters are focusing Sunday on securing fire lines, mopping up hot spots and patrolling, plus cleaning up unburned islands of fuel within the fire perimeter, Tyson Finnicum, incident spokesman, told Cowboy State Daily.
It’s difficult to know the extent of the loss to area ranchers and wildlife herds. One sheep rancher in the southern area of the fire described trying to save his flock and those of his neighbors.
Victor Goni described the area as a “war zone,” and that the speed of its growth was amazing.
“It blew my mind that the wind had switched just like that,” he told Cowboy State Daily reporter Pat Maio.
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Currently, Wyoming is experiencing an average number of wildfires but an above average amount of acres burned. Last year was a well-below average fire season, due to the above average amount of moisture. In 2024 to date, Wyoming has had 522 wildfires that have burned approximately 327,700 acres.
Unique to this fire season is the fact that the majority of the wildfires have burned on private rather than federal lands, the statement says.
And the end of the article is a steep warning of what's to come, not only because of climate disasters, but because people think of survival as something individual and not as a collective... Magic thinking... If everyone leaves, who's going to produce food heh?
