2024 Wyoming wildfires

2024 Wyoming wildfires
The Elk Fire in Sheridan County on September 30th, 2024.
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The 2024 Wyoming wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Wyoming during 2024.

Background

"Wildfire season" in Wyoming typically occurs between June and September, but wildfires can occur as early as April and late as December. Peak time of fire season is normally in July and August. Wildfires in Wyoming are triggered by a dry climate, drought, grasses die and dry out, and times when dry thunderstorms are more common.[1] Humidity levels, dryness of fuel, wind, and temperature also play a crucial role. Forests that have not had wildfires in recent years have more fire fuel, and trees killed by disease and insect infestation quickly dry up and become a prime fuel for wildfires.[2]

Summary

By late August 2024, Wyoming experienced one of its most severe wildfire seasons in decades, with over 810,000 acres burned—second only to the 1988 Yellowstone fires.[3] Dry conditions, high winds, and abundant fuel contributed to rapid fire spread across grasslands, forests, and mountainous regions.[4]

The largest and most destructive blaze was the Elk Fire in Sheridan County, which scorched approximately 98,352 acres in the Bighorn National Forest. The fire prompted evacuations and threatened critical infrastructure, including the Little Bighorn Canyon.[5] Firefighting efforts were complicated by rugged terrain and challenging weather conditions.

Other significant fires included the Pack Trail Fire, which burned 89,930 acres across Teton and Fremont counties before merging with the Fish Creek Fire on October 5.[6] The Short Draw Fire in Campbell County consumed 34,557 acres, and the La Bonte Fire in Converse County burned 3,506 acres.[7]

The 2024 wildfire season placed a significant strain on Wyoming’s firefighting resources and finances.[8] State Forester Kelly Norris described the season as “massive,” highlighting the challenges posed by extreme weather and extensive fuel loads.[9]

State and federal agencies coordinated efforts to manage and suppress the fires, prioritizing protection of communities and critical infrastructure. The 2024 season underscored the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Wyoming and prompted discussions on long-term mitigation and resource allocation.[10]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date[a] Notes Ref
352 I-80 Laramie2,193February 24March 25[12]
Hwy 16 Crook1,200February 25[13]
Happy Jack Laramie6,524March 1July 3Caused by human activity.[14]
139 Laramie2,017March 2March 26Caused by human activity.[15]
Creek Crook1,470June 11June 20[16]
Pine Ridge Goshen1,290June 24June 28Caused by lightning.[17]
Road 22 Goshen5,576July 13July 15[18]
Oregon Trail Natrona1,540July 13July 22[19]
Clearwater Park1,966July 19DecemberLightning-caused.[20]
Badger Sheridan7,973July 24August 29[21]
Beaver Creek Campbell1,081July 28August 31Lightning-caused.[22]
Blizzard Heights Converse1,957July 28July 29Lightning-caused.[23]
Cold Springs Converse1,846July 30September 24[24]
Deer Creek Johnson6,700August 3August 9[25]
Fish Creek Teton & Fremont25,443August 16Caused by lightning. Merged with the Pack Trail Fire on October 5.[26]
Constitution Campbell24,630August 21September 14[27]
Geier Weston1,474August 21September 24[28]
Barber Converse1,419August 21September 24[29]
House Draw Johnson174,547August 21September 17[30]
Flat Rock Campbell52,421August 21September 25[31]
Pleasant Valley Platte & Goshen28,984July 30August 7[32]
Remington Sheridan196,368August 22September 21Spread into Montana. Destroyed several structures, ranches, and killed livestock. Became largest wildfire of Montana's wildfire season. Injured one civilian.[33][34][35]
Silver Spoon Campbell1,721September 1September 7[36]
West Warm Springs Hot Springs1,610September 9September 13[37]
Short Draw Campbell34,557September 11September 20[38]
Salt Creek Natrona1,520September 11September 11[39]
Bear Creek Albany1,444September 12September 20[40]
La Bonte Converse3,506September 12September 25[41]
Livingston Draw Johnson1,400September 17September 23[42]
Elk Sheridan98,352September 27November 14One firefighter injured.[43]
Pack Trail Teton & Fremont89,930September 27November 7Merged with the Fish Creek Fire on October 5.[44]
Diamond Platte2,168October 22October 23[45]

Notes

  1. ↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Wildfire". www.tetoncountywy.gov. Teton County. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Risk Factors Associated with Wildfires". www.tetoncountywy.gov. Teton County. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Wyoming's massive 2024 wildfire season second only to infamous '88". August 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Fire season is here as blazes ignite across Wyoming's Bighorn Basin". June 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Spotlight: Elk Fire in Wyoming". September 12, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Pack Trail Fire merges with Fish Creek Fire". October 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Short Draw Fire burns over 34,000 acres in Wyoming". September 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Wyoming forestry resources strained by 2024 wildfires". August 30, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Wyoming Forester: 'Massive' 2024 Wildfires Challenge Resources". August 29, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Wyoming wildfire mitigation strategies emphasized after 2024 season". October 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  13. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  14. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  15. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Wildfire Spurs Evacuations at Pine Ridge Subdivision, Over 1200 Acres Burned". goconow. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Large Grassfire contained in Goshen County". Wyoming News Now. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  19. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Clearwater Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  21. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  22. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  23. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  24. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Deer Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Fish Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Constitution Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  28. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  29. ↑ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  30. ↑ "House Draw Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Flat Rock Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Peasant Valley Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Remington Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  34. ↑ Spartz, Isabel (August 26, 2024). "Destructive wildfire in southeastern Montana forces evacuations and claims land". KTVQ. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  35. ↑ Weiss, Caroline (January 1, 2025). "Recapping Montana's 2024 fire season". KPAX-TV. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Silver Spoon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  37. ↑ "West Warm Springs Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Short Draw Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Salt Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Bear Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  41. ↑ "La Bonte Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Livingston Draw Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Elk Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Pack Trail Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Diamond Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 23, 2024.


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