2024 Wyoming wildfires

2024 Wyoming wildfires
The Elk Fire in Sheridan County on September 30th, 2024.
Season
2025 →

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 Laramie 2,193 February 24 March 25 [12]
Hwy 16 Crook 1,200 February 25 [13]
Happy Jack Laramie 6,524 March 1 July 3 Caused by human activity. [14]
139 Laramie 2,017 March 2 March 26 Caused by human activity. [15]
Creek Crook 1,470 June 11 June 20 [16]
Pine Ridge Goshen 1,290 June 24 June 28 Caused by lightning. [17]
Road 22 Goshen 5,576 July 13 July 15 [18]
Oregon Trail Natrona 1,540 July 13 July 22 [19]
Clearwater Park 1,966 July 19 December Lightning-caused. [20]
Badger Sheridan 7,973 July 24 August 29 [21]
Beaver Creek Campbell 1,081 July 28 August 31 Lightning-caused. [22]
Blizzard Heights Converse 1,957 July 28 July 29 Lightning-caused. [23]
Cold Springs Converse 1,846 July 30 September 24 [24]
Deer Creek Johnson 6,700 August 3 August 9 [25]
Fish Creek Teton & Fremont 25,443 August 16 Caused by lightning. Merged with the Pack Trail Fire on October 5th. [26]
Constitution Campbell 24,630 August 21 September 14 [27]
Geier Weston 1,474 August 21 September 24 [28]
Barber Converse 1,419 August 21 September 24 [29]
House Draw Johnson 174,547 August 21 September 17 [30]
Flat Rock Campbell 52,421 August 21 September 25 [31]
Pleasant Valley Platte & Goshen 28,984 July 30 August 7 [32]
Remington Sheridan 196,368 August 22 September 21 Spread 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 Campbell 1,721 September 1 September 7 [36]
West Warm Springs Hot Springs 1,610 September 9 September 13 [37]
Short Draw Campbell 34,557 September 11 September 20 [38]
Salt Creek Natrona 1,520 September 11 September 11 [39]
Bear Creek Albany 1,444 September 12 September 20 [40]
La Bonte Converse 3,506 September 12 September 25 [41]
Livingston Draw Johnson 1,400 September 17 September 23 [42]
Elk Sheridan 98,352 September 27 November 14 One firefighter injured. [43]
Pack Trail Teton & Fremont 89,930 September 27 November 7 Merged with the Fish Creek Fire on October 5th. [44]
Diamond Platte 2,168 October 22 October 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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