(Hot Springs County, WY) – As of 7 AM this morning, August 18, the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two (RMCIMT 2) has assumed management of the Red Canyon Fire, which grew to 91,457 acres on Sunday, but is now at 28% containment.
“RMCIMT2 appreciates Nevada Team 5, whose excellent in-briefing is helping establish operational and community priorities,” the latest release from the new team states. “We extend our sincere appreciation to Nevada Team 5 for their service.”
The update also confirms the cause of the fire was lightning, and that 425 personnel are on-scene.
The full update is available below.
Operations: Crews on the north side of the fire, in Divs. C and G continue mop-up and patrol, working to identify and extinguish remaining hot spots, with additional resources being deployed along Lake Road. To the south, in Div.M, the Pike Hotshots remain actively engaged as staffing increases to protect high-value areas and prevent further spread south. As more resources arrive, operations are likely to expand along the southern edge, and night operations will be strengthened to enhance overall effectiveness and ensure firefighter safety. Air operations were active yesterday, supported by a newly established helibase. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) module will be used to enhance mapping. Due to yesterday’s increased acreage, the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been expanded to the north and the west.
Weather: Several thunderstorms moved through the area again yesterday, with the heaviest activity along the fire’s northern edge, producing about one-tenth of an inch of rain. Lightning was again observed, along with multiple outflow winds reaching up to 40 mph. High pressure is moving in today, which will reduce the risk of additional thunderstorms and moderate fire behavior slightly. Winds are expected to shift to more typical upslope and up-valley patterns, gusting up to 20 mph throughout the day. Temperatures will be warmer, reaching the 90s, with humidity levels dropping into the mid to lower teens. Overnight humidity recovery will be minimal.
Closures: New closures include Buffalo Creek Road at the cattle guard, closed to all traffic, and eastbound Black Mountain Road from Cowboy Mine Road. Updates are available at https://www.facebook.com/hotspringscoso/.
Evacuations: Evacuations are in place for Buffalo Creek Road between Jones Creek Road and Reck Road, extending to the Fremont County line. This includes Kirby Creek, Lake Creek, Bridger Creek, and the Pack Saddle area. Kirby Creek Road between Red Hole Road and Buffalo Creek Road was previously evacuated. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/hotspringscoso/.
(The evacuation warnings issued for Fremont County zones remain in effect.)
Safety: Some property owners are taking independent actions to protect their homes, but this creates safety risks and diverts resources from firefighting. For firefighter safety and public safety, please avoid working in fire area. A TFR is in place—drones are prohibited. If you fly, we can’t.
Public Information/Media Phone Number: 307-395-2256 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Email: 2025.redcanyon@firenet.gov
Additionally, a community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, August 18, at the Hot Springs County High School Auditorium, located at 415 Springview Street.