Multi-department, mutual-aid response led to quick containment of Aug. 11 fires in Fort Washakie, Ethete

(Wind River Reservation, WY) – Two fires were reported yesterday, August 11, in the Fort Washakie and Ethete areas, with the Fort Washakie fire resulting in a temporary Level 3 evacuation order issued by the Fremont County Emergency Management Agency.

Lander Rural Fire of the Fremont County Fire Protection District shared today on its Facebook page that the response to these fires included a wealth of mutual aid that led to prompt containment.

Lander Rural shared that FCFPD Battalion 1-Central Fire, Missouri Valley Fire Department FCFPD Battalion #4, Morton Kinnear Fire Department FCFPD Battalion 5, Pavillion Volunter Firefighters Batt 7 FCFPD, Midvale Fire Dept – FCFPD # 8, Crowheart Fire Battalion, Hudson Fire Battalion, Fort Washakie Fire Battalion, and Lander Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the fire.

“As firefighters worked to corral the fire and shift it away from structures, multiple law-enforcement agencies, BIA, FBI, Wind River PD, Highway Patrol, began evacuating homes, clearing the scene, and blocking traffic so firefighters could move quickly and freely (to) different locations around the fire,” the release also states. “When the wind shifted in, the fire continue(d) to grow (and) additional aid was called in. BIA fire crews, BLM fire crews, US Forest Service fire crews, and the DuBois Fire Department joined the scene.”

Air assets also assisted on the fire in Fort Washakie, including “an LAT, two SEATS, a type one helicopter and a type two helicopter,” which all worked to protect structures and contain the fire.

Later that day around 5:15 PM, multiple units broke off from the fire in Fort Washakie to respond to a 1-acre fire in Ethete.

Both fires were successfully extinguished.

“The Trout Creek fire burned to approximately 250 acres,” Lander Rural also shared in the release. “It was a true showcase of mutual aid between Fremont County battalions federal fire crews and federal air assets. If there’s anyone we missed in thanking that assisted with this fire please know we are grateful and thankful for the help and camaraderie.”