Elk Fire containment remains steady this week

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The Elk Fire continues to sit at 96,360 acres and 51% containment, with 540 personnel continuing to fight the lightning-caused fire.

As the weather warms back up, pockets of smoke will become visible inside the fire area. Fire managers are aware of these hotspots and will take action as needed.

Most of the heat will likely come from the heavy down and dead fuels on the ground, which should not be a cause for alarm.  

Remnants of snow remain in some of the shaded areas and northern facing slopes; however, a gradual drying pattern continues. Fire personnel were busy Sunday doing prep work to make potential fire lines more defensible and repairing previous suppression lines.

Division A firefighters will continue to mop up and rehab fire lines on the northern part of the fire. Division Z Crews are looking for opportunities to close any fire line gaps in the Red Canyon area. A road grader worked this week on suppression repair of dozer lines. 

The ground dried out sufficiently to begin suppression repair work. While doing this work in the interior of the fire, a couple of logs flared up as they were turned over by the dozer. Crews promptly suppressed the hotspot. Suppression repair continued along the eastern edge of the fire.

Fire supervisors are assessing the road system for a potential indirect fire line north of Burgess Junction to protect the WYDOT compound and the Forest Service Visitor Center and Work Center. A structure protection plan is in place.

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