Lightning Storm Triggers 11 Wildfires in a Single Night Across Northeast Wyoming
A powerful thunderstorm that moved through northeast Wyoming on Wednesday night ignited 11 wildfires across three counties, marking the most active night of the wildfire season so far for the region’s fire departments, Cowboy State Daily reports.
The fires, all confirmed to have been caused by lightning strikes, began around 6:20 p.m. and kept crews working late into the night. Fire departments from across the area, including full-time, seasonal, and part-time personnel, were called in to respond.
“We had 20 different wildland apparatus fire trucks out last night and the staffing, so you’re probably talking close to 40 to 50 personnel,” said Campbell County Fire Marshal Stuart Burnham.
Among the most significant fires was the Powder River Fire near Arvada in Johnson County, which has burned approximately 1,000 acres and is currently 50% contained. Crews faced complex conditions, including strong winds and split fire fronts, which required dividing firefighting efforts into separate flanks, each with its own command.
“There was a front that moved through that night, and we had winds recorded at 30 mph,” said Clearmont Fire Chief Josh McKinley, who led operations on the east flank of the Powder River Fire. “We had to retreat and re-attack after embers sparked new fire activity behind us.”
To help contain the fire, a bulldozer was brought in to create a fireline, followed by a back burn operation that allowed crews to slow the fire’s advance and eventually release some personnel.
Meanwhile, the Cedar Draw Fire, covering roughly 30 acres in Campbell County on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, also drew attention. Command for that fire has since been turned over to the BLM, with local support continuing as needed.
The weather played a dual role during the night. While lightning started the fires, rain that followed helped suppress some flames but also made access difficult, particularly in remote areas with dirt roads.
“The BLM crews on the Powder River Fire were unable to get out of it because it was pretty muddy,” McKinley noted.
Despite the challenges, most fires were under control by Thursday, thanks in part to the rainfall. Crews were dispatched to monitor remaining hotspots and determine whether any blazes needed further attention.
Burnham described current conditions as borderline for fire risk — with vegetation just green enough to slow rapid spread, but dry enough to ignite. With the forecast calling for sun and wind, he warned that it wouldn’t take much for the fire risk to rise sharply. Officials are now considering fire restrictions, though none are yet in place in Campbell County. Fireworks remain permitted in the county but are banned within the city limits of Gillette.
In Crook County, Fire Warden Charles Harrison reported no major fire starts so far but noted that vegetation is drying out quickly.
“That lush green is turning dry and brown,” he said, urging caution ahead of the holiday weekend.
McKinley echoed that warning, emphasizing that increased moisture earlier in the season has led to more grass growth than usual — creating abundant fuel.
“Just be safe, especially across the holiday,” he said. “It will burn, and it burns fast.”
As summer conditions continue to evolve, local officials are bracing for the possibility of more frequent fire activity, including from underground coal seams, which become more active as the surface vegetation dries out.
