Smoky air and burning eyes is a common problem for Laramie residents over the past few days as two Albany County fires burn through thousands of acres and keep growing.
According to InciWeb, the Incident Information System, the Arapaho Fire is located 60 miles North of Laramie and started on June 27. The fire is estimated to have burned 75 thousand acres of timber and is growing. There is five percent containment on the fire and approximately 200 homes, cabins, and summer camps have been evacuated. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
InciWeb also reported that the Squirrel Fire, located four miles north/northwest of Woods Landing and two miles south/southeast of Lake Owen, has burned about seven thousand acres and is growing. The fire was started on June 30. The cause of the fire is unknown. The fire is actively burning in beetle-killed timber and Red Flag conditions and exceptionally dry fuels are contributing to active burning and fire growth.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation notices for all residents along the Fox Creek Road and from Jelm Mountain on the south, north along Sheep Mountain and all the way to Highway 130. wThis includes the west side of Highway 230, the community of Woods Landing and Jelm, as well as Sheep Mountain, up to Lake Hattie.Governor Matt Mead notes that as of this morning there are over 1,400 men and women fighting fires in Wyoming.
That does not include all of the local and volunteer firefighters who are engaged in initial attack. There are also 37 aircraft and more than 95 fire engines deployed to fight wildfires in this state right now. Those numbers are all expected to increase by the end of the day.
“Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes already this year and some have lost homes and cabins. We need to keep these people and the firefighters in our thoughts and prayers and each of us needs to be personally responsible by doing everything possible to prevent fires,” Governor Mead said. He urges people to avoid the use of fireworks and open fires and to be extremely cautious with anything that could cause a fire.
According to the University of Wyoming Extension information, homeowners can take action to help secure properties against potential wildfires. “With the critically dry and hot conditions this year, it is extremely wise to make sure you create a defensible space around the entire perimeter of your home and all outbuildings,” said Ron Cunningham, a UW Extension educator based in Fremont County. “This is the one thing you can do to help prevent catastrophic losses from wildfires.”
