UPDATE 11:55AM: BLM Law Enforcement has taken over traffic control in the area. The road closure will be Black Mountain Rd just west of Kirby Creek Rd. According to the BLM Fire, homes west of Kirby Creek on Black Mountain Rd are not under evacuation at this time.
(Hot Springs County, WY) – The Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security have advised an immediate evacuation for residents living in the areas in red pictured below, effective immediately, as of about 11 AM, August 14, due to the Red Canyon Fire.
The Red Canyon Fire is currently burning at 3,000 acres, according to the Watch Duty app.
The image below shows the Red Canyon Fire hotspots, as detected by satellite via FrontlineWilfire, ESRI.
The Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office states they are “aware of and assisting Thermopolis Fire Department and the BLM Fire with the active fire in the Red Hole / Kirby Creek / Buffalo Creek areas.”
The evacuation is only for those areas as of right now, the Sheriff’s Office reiterated, and asked that residents “please do not call 911 or the non-emergency number regarding this fire unless you are in the affected area and need immediate help” because “the communications center is being overwhelmed with calls from people that do not need immediate assistance.”
The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security added that the Red Canyon Fire is not approaching Thermopolis at this time, and is “south of Black Mountain Road and west of Kirby Creek Road, heading northeast.”
An evacuation center has been set up at the Thermopolis Fire Hall at 400 S 14th St.