A pyrocumulus cloud forms over the head of the Remington Fire last week. These clouds result from the intense heating of the air, in this case from the burning Southeast Montana trees. Pyrocumulus clouds may also be seen during volcanic eruptions. (Photo courtesy Broadus Volunteer Fire Department)
The Remington Fire scorched over 196,000 acres in Northern Wyoming and Southeast Montana beginning on August 21st. The origin of the fire was around a mile north of Clear Creek's mouth on the Powder River in Sheridan County, Wyoming, burning in a wind driven swath nearly to the Tongue River below Birney, MT.
In its wind driven travels across Wyoming into the southwest corner of Powder River County, southeast Bighorn County, MT, and southern Rosebud County, the fire burned around 46 miles when measured from its origin to the head, following the center of the fire, and encompassing over 130 miles of fire line. Along the way, the fire took out grass, cattle, and rancher's livelihoods.
The Incident Management Team in charge of the fire informed us that one structure had been knowingly lost from the Remington Fire, though no primary residences had been destroyed.
The scope of livestock losses was still not yet fully clear, as rain storms cooled the fire Monday. At least one major loss of livestock was reported, though that information is likely to become more available as ranchers switch from firefighting duties back to tending to their herds, which are potentially now strewn about far and wide due to burned fences.
The town of Birney, which had been heavily affected by fires to the south and west already this summer, was ordered evacuated, as the Remington Fire swept in from the southeast and eventually consumed the lands to the east and northeast. Tongue River Reservoir's boat ramps shut down due to aircraft dipping water to douse the flames (also from the Barber Draw Fire, which burned over 6,700 acres just northwest of the reservoir earlier in the week).
The Remington Fire traveled as far north and west as the East Tongue River Road and O'Dell Creek, around 10 miles south of Ashland, where firefighters' efforts stopped the fire during its relentless assault north.
The Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team was in charge of the Remington Fire, as well as several large fires in Northeast Wyoming including the Flat Rock Fire 14 miles west of Gillette (at nearly 53,000 acres) and the House Draw Fire east of Buffalo (at over 174,000 acres), both of which prompted the closure of I90 in Wyoming last week, and the Constitution Fire around 11 miles north of Gillette, at nearly 25,000 acres, which prompted the closure of Hwy 59 last week.
The fires combined to burn around 448,000 acres, or 3/4 the land mass of the state of Rhode Island.
840 personnel were assigned to the team with 24 crews, 3 helicopters, up to 107 engines, 9 bulldozers, and 7 water tenders, as well as local fire departments, county road crews from multiple counties in Wyoming and Montana, and local ranchers tending to the fires.
Wind shifts and cooler temperatures later in the weekend also lessened the fires intensity, and by Monday crews were working to secure fire lines and engage in mop-up duties. Also on Monday, offers of donations of hay, fencing supplies, and other support were flowing in on social media to help ranchers and others affected by the fires.
On Friday Powder River County declared a local emergency declaration in regard to the Remington Fire. The emergency declaration frees up funds to potentially deal with paying for the fire, and in essence "gets the ball rolling" to attain Montana Disaster and Emergency Services funds. These sorts of declarations have been used regularly for other large fire or weather events, from counties around Montana.
In speaking with Mike Riley at the Farm Services Agency in Broadus, federal programs are available to help out with cattle loss and fencing, water tanks, and other ranch infrastructure lost during the fires, through the Livestock Indemnity Program, and the Emergency Conservation Program. Those affected may call the FSA at 406-436-2321 to learn more.
A lone bull, his face covered in soot, stands silent vigil over the charred landscape of the Remington Fire, which burned over 196,000 acres of Wyoming and Southeast Montana recently. (Photo courtesy Shari Brown McKinney)
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