Fire season arrives early in Big Horn Basin

Kane Fire surges, historic home lost, crews stretched

The Big Horn Basin has harbored a smoky haze the past few days as record-breaking spring temps following an exceptionally dry winter usher in fire season ahead of schedule. 

“This is very unusual for this time of year,” Big Horn County Fire Warden Brent Godfrey said. In his 50-year career, he said he has never seen the fire season start so early. The summer promises more to come. 

The Kane fire, a grass and brush fire outside of Lovell, had surged to 1,900 acres as of Sunday night aided by strong winds. 

Lovell Volunteer Fire Department was already responding to a brush fire near structures in the Crooked Creek area when they got the call Saturday at 5:44 p.m. A huge plume of smoke was reported at Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area off Highway 14A East. The wind carried the fire, believed to have originated in the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area, towards the Haliburton/Bentonite Performance Minerals plant. 

“The flames burned mostly thick river bottom vegetation and has exhibited characteristics of fire behavior normally found in an August blaze,” Big Horn Canyon National Park Service said in a news release.

Lovell soon called in Powell Volunteer Fire Department for aid, followed by BLM, Wyoming Hotshots and Forest Service crews. The state and federal firefighters were able to relieve local volunteers for a stint. Sunday night around 5 p.m., a heavy helicopter commissioned from Colorado dropped retardant on the flames. All roads on the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area remain closed. 

As of press time, no official cause had been determined. On Monday, Godfrey predicted it would be a week before the fire was fully out, with Lovell Fire Chief Zach Blain reporting the blaze 10% contained.  Crews were still holding the line and mopping up. 

“There’s no moisture in any of these fuels,” Godfrey said. The cottonwood trees along the river bottom have been reduced to nothing. 

HISTORIC SMITH HOME BURNED

Only an hour after Lovell crews were dispatched for the Kane Fire, Shell Valley Volunteer Fire Department was called to Trapper Creek Road with reports of a fire near structures and trees. Twelve volunteer firefighters and four engines initially responded to the call. 

“By the time the last unit arrived of the four, [the house] was totally engulfed,” SVFD Chief Wes Huber said. 

Jade Smith, the single occupant of the historic 1920 ranch house, and her pet reportedly made it out of the residence safely. Two other people on the property who had been near the banks of Trapper Creek had to travel to a neighbor’s house to call dispatch, with no cell service in the area. 

Huber reported that a 500-gallon propane tank, recently filled, was gushing a near 40-foot column of steady flame. A brush fire was also quickly spreading. Crews worked to contain the fire as Greybull Volunteer Fire Department was called to aid, supplying an additional crew of 10, an engine, a tanker and a brush truck. Once Greybull arrived on scene, the team worked to cool the propane tank and prevent an explosion. 

Firefighters cleared out around 3:30 a.m. The home was a complete loss. The state fire marshal was reportedly called to investigate on Sunday, with no conclusion as to what started the fire as of Monday. 

FIRE BAN IGNORED

There is a wildfire forecasting guideline called the 30-30-30 rule which creates a perfect storm for fires: When temps reach 30ºC (86ºF), humidity is 30% or lower and wind speeds are at or above 30 km/h (18.6 mph).

Saturday was a history maker for Greybull, with a high of 84ºF blowing away the previous 74ºF record high daily temp from March 21, 2007. Sunday repeated with a record 85ºF high. The National Weather Service recorded 31 mph maximum wind gusts Saturday which grew to maximum 50 mph gusts Sunday. Combined with low humidities averaging in the 30% range, Godfrey issued a red flag warning for the county March 18 - March 21, later extended through March 22. 

Over the course of the burn ban, dispatch was alerted to five controlled burns – in various stages of control -- in the Emblem, Basin, Frannie and Greybull areas. None were called in prior, with a few that required fire department response, Godfrey said. 

The fine for burning during a ban is $100. If a fire spreads onto another person’s property, that can become a misdemeanor negligent burning charge that carries a $750 fine and/or up to six months imprisonment. Godfrey explained that beyond property damage, the “piddly” fires that could have been prevented by a phone call tie up resources needed for larger area fires. 

“When you’ve got your whole fire department fighting a major fire like Lovell is doing … if we didn’t have mutual aid with all of our agencies, we’d be hurting,” Godfrey said. 

Accidents can be avoided by making sure the ground around burn barrels and welding areas are cleared of vegetation and water kept handy. Trailer chains should also be secured to prevent dragging. 

Farmers were quick to act after the ban was lifted Monday, getting their fields cleaned up while they could. 

The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for Wednesday across nearly all low elevations in western and central Wyoming, including the Big Horn Basin, Worland and Cody areas, anticipating temperatures in the 70s to 80s, humidity as low as 12% and wind gusts up to 50 mph. Thursday, NWS predicted, a cold front would improve conditions for central and northern Wyoming, though southern Wyoming may be elevated to critical fire weather conditions. 

Calling in a controlled burn is always required, even without extreme conditions. Dispatch is able to alert citizens to any bans that may be in place. Burns can be called in to the Big Horn County Dispatch Center at 307-568-2324.

BIGGER PICTURE

Big Horn is not the only county facing fire weather. Washakie and Park counties are expected to maintain similar conditions, and have already had fires of their own, with Campbell County in Stage I fire restrictions. Near Casper, the Sandpiper Fire, discovered March 20, burned 6,287 acres before containment. The Scott’s Bottom Fire in Green River burned 40 acres and 12 structures. In neighboring Nebraska, the Morrill fire grew to 642,029 acres since March 13, now largely contained. 

Godfrey explained that in partnership with the State of Wyoming, local fire agencies have access to air resources including three helicopters and a small plane. However, that contract isn’t set to come into effect until next month. Godfrey said that may need to be moved up this year. 

“[State assistance] is going to help us immensely, but on a year like this, that’s on a first-come, first-serve basis,” Godfrey said.