(Hot Springs County, WY) – The Red Canyon Fire in Hot Springs County has grown to 83,248 acres and is at 0% containment, according to the latest update shared late Sunday morning, August 17.
“Overnight the fire made active runs to the northwest, west, south, southwest, and east,” the update informs. “On the west flank, the fire moved into Ditch Creek Canyon and down Buffalo Creek drainage.”
“There was active movement on the southwest flank – the fire burned across the Buffalo Creek Road and into the Alkali Creek and West Kirby Creek drainages and is threatening the Jones Creek Road area. Predicted westerly winds could threaten the Bridger Creek Road and Reck Road on the southeast flank. On the northwest side, the fire moved easterly across Kirby Creek Road, north down Cottonwood Creek, and crossed the Lake Creek Road. There was some active burning south of Kirby Creek.”
You can watch below as Canadair CL-215’s (Scoopers) procure water from Boysen Reservoir to dump on the fire. Video courtesy of Jamie Green.
In terms of weather impacts, the main concern will be “frequent lightning for more fire starts, and then gusty outflows onto the existing fire area,” according to today’s update.
“The Red Canyon Fire will see these impacts later tonight and tomorrow as wind gusts are likely to push 40 mph with these storms and possibly more if they start to weaken and collapse off the Absarokas prior to reaching east of Thermopolis. Cloud cover could, and hopefully will, diminish these impacts east of the Divide and north of Highway 20 for these areas with the fires, but something to monitor as the afternoon progresses.”
As for closures, Buffalo Creek Road at the cattle guard for the dirt road remains closed, and no traffic will be allowed to pass. Black Mountain Road from Cowboy Mine Rd eastbound traffic is closed.
“A new evacuation area was established last night south of Buffalo Creek Road, east of Jones Creek Road, and west of Reck Road from the fire area to the Fremont county line,” the update also states. “This includes all of 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.”
For up-to-date evacuation and closure information, click here.
For additional resources:
Phone: 307-395-2256
Email: 2025.redcanyon@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hscpublichealth
Responders are once again requesting to reiterate the following:
Several property owners in the fire area have continue to take independent actions to protect their property; these actions at times hamper efforts of firefighters. When non-firefighting personnel are in an area where operations are planned or are being conducted, firefighting resources’ attention is diverted from firefighting to ensuring the safety of the public. Anyone working independently is asked to coordinate efforts with the incident management team or to stop working in the fire management area.