Elk Fire grows to nearly 76,000 acres

16% contained

As of Wednesday, nearly 900 people were involved in the effort to bring the Elk Fire under control.

Caused by a September 27 lightning strike, the fire was said to be 16% contained and had consumed 75,969 acres on the eastern slope of the Bighorn National Forest — from roughly six miles northwest of Dayton to six miles southwest of Dayton.

Casey Cheesbrough, incident commander of the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3, said in Tuesday’s daily update that firefighting efforts were focused on the southern part of the fire and protecting surrounding communities, the Big Goose municipal watershed and structures in the Big Goose drainage that are potentially threatened.

Tuesday’s report continued: “On the fire’s northeast side, a hotshot crew conducted a firing operation yesterday off the 144 Road, and crews working the night shift secured and held the fire line by extinguishing hotspots. Crews will continue fuels removal work in that area today. They will also be patrolling and mopping up any heat sources around structures. Structure protection is accomplished through a variety of methods such as removal of vegetation near structures, construction of fire line, and placement of hose and sprinklers where possible. Day- and night-shift crews are continuing to brush and improve Pass Creek Road.

“On the eastern side, construction of containment lines has been completed and the lines are holding. Firefighters are patrolling and eliminating lingering areas of heat. On the south end of the fire, Red Grade Road and Poverty Flats will be busy with heavy equipment today. Crews will be constructing additional fire line in the area with a dozer and hand tools and potentially conducting firing operations using drones and helicopters if favorable weather conditions exist. Crews last night work on clearing brush away from the Sheridan Water Treatment intake to avoid damage to the structures and avoid disrupting service to the communities.”