Buffalo Fire update for Friday, July 28

Press Release – Incident: Lightning on July 24, started both the Buffalo and Stallions fires. The Buffalo Fire is in Powder River County, 31 miles southwest of Broadus, MT; it has spread into Campbell County, WY.  The Stallions Fire is in the Bittercreek area of Campbell County, 45 miles north of Gillette, Wyoming and within 3 miles of the Buffalo Fire.  Management of the Stallions Fire (1,051 acres) has been returned to Campbell County.

Incident Command:  Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team, Tom Kurth, Incident Commander.

Current Size:  3,104 acres

Containment:  80%

Structures Destroyed:  0

Current Resources:  Crews:  10, Engines:  17, Helicopters:  2, Dozers:  9, Total Personnel:  354

Current Situation:  Containment lines around the fire are nearing completion.  Firefighters are securing the southwest division where heat remains, particularly in downed juniper trees that continue to burn, within the fire perimeter.  Around the rest of the fire, firefighters are “mopping in” from the fireline, extinguishing hot spots from the fires edge into the burned area to reduce the risk of spot fires.  A licensed unmanned aerial system (UAS, agency drone with authorized and licensed operator) is being used to observe, in real time, burn conditions and spots of heat.  Its use is coordinated and integrated with the use of other aircraft on the fire.  Where it is safe to do so, fireline is being rehabilitated to reduce erosion and allow natural vegetation to re-establish.

Thunderstorms did not materialize over the fire area yesterday although there was storm activity in the surrounding areas.

There is a chance of thunderstorms for the next several days, bringing some chance of moisture but also erratic and strong winds.

Crews and equipment assigned to the Buffalo Fire are organized and prepared for initial attack operations if they are needed.

Flight Restrictions:  A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fires. Pilots looking for more information on the TFR go to: http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. The objective is to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. The public is reminded that it is illegal to operate drones within a TFR.

Fire Restrictions:  In southeastern Montana Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place due to dry, hot conditions, which could lead to wildfires caused by human activity. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions ban all campfires except for in developed recreation sites, fire rings or improved sites. They also prohibit smoking, except in enclosed vehicles or buildings, at developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. For more information:  https://firerestrictions.us/mt/

Due to the extreme fire danger Campbell County, Wyoming, is currently experiencing, the Campbell County Fire Department Chief requested the Commissioners adopt a resolution restricting open burning. The resolution took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 7th and will remain in place until weather conditions have sufficiently changed to a reduced risk of wildland fires. The resolution puts in place a partial closure of outdoor fires in unimproved areas, defined as cropland, agricultural land and undeveloped land which predominately remains in its natural forested or range condition. For more information:  https://www.ccgov.net/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=554

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