The Wyoming Way!

The Elk Fire in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming has grown to nearly 80,000 acres as I write this at just 15% contained. High winds over the weekend and extremely dry conditions have caused substantial growth to the south and west. With the noise of wind gusts over 50 MPH in the early hours of Sunday morning I woke up with a feeling of dread, knowing what happens to wildfire in winds like that. Folks, we haven’t had measurable precipitation for many weeks. Please join us in Prayer for rain or snow.

Many areas have been evacuated, many on standby, including some of my favorite places on earth.  Roads throughout the area are closed or closing.  Ranchers are driving cattle herds through burning areas of forest and brush in an effort to evacuate them from the area.  Smoke and ash falling around us in town is a constant reminder of what is happening to our beautiful mountain. Reminding myself that fire is natural to our forests and how mother nature will regrow, restore and knowing she provides reforestation.  Still it’s a jolt to ones sensibilities.

Impact to the community economically will take time to measure, however it is obvious that it will be substantial considering big-game hunting season in some areas will likely be canceled. The revenue from hunting, fishing and tourism sustains a lot of businesses in this part of the country.  Will our beautiful Antelope Butte Ski Area be effected?  It remains to be seen.  It’s always important to support local business…now more than ever.

The community has rallied big time to support firefighters and those evacuated, including thousands of cattle, sheep and other livestock. There are approximately 600 firefighters working the Elk Fire as we speak, including multiple slurry bombers, helicopters and on foot. Not to mention the command and control personal needed to operate a mission like this.  My wife and I witnessed multiple fire crews resupplying on donated food, water, etc at The Parkman Bar & Grill in Parkman Wy on Sunday.  The soot on their clothes & bodies and the weariness on their faces spoke volumes even in their silence.

Folks have been donating food, water, housing, trucks, trailers, hay, pasture space, etc. in such abundance that space to store it is filling up.  Witnessing such generosity does soften the blow. Way to go WYO…after all It is  the Wyoming Way! And why I choose to live here.  If you are considering donating, here are a few organizations taking donations: