Gordon Declares Fire Emergency as Red Canyon Blaze Tops 100,000 Acres

Wyoming’s wildfire season just hit another level. Governor Mark Gordon has officially declared a state of emergency as the Red Canyon Fire east of Thermopolis exploded past 100,000 acres Monday, forcing new evacuations and pulling in federal firefighting resources.

The fire, sparked by lightning last week, has been racing through grasslands and brush across Hot Springs, Fremont, and Washakie counties. Over the weekend, high winds pushed flames into new territory, burning an area nearly the size of Denver. Evacuation orders are in place for multiple rural communities, with officials warning that the fire could run south toward Lysite.

“This fire is creating significant impacts on our communities and threatening lives and property,” Gordon said in a statement.

His emergency order unlocks federal funding and allows the Wyoming National Guard to be activated if needed.

Already, FEMA has approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant that covers 75% of the state’s eligible firefighting costs. That money won’t replace homes or businesses, but it will help cover the ballooning price tag of the response — the fire has already cost an estimated $2.1 million to fight.

A new federal incident management team took control Monday morning, bringing in more firefighters, aircraft, and resources. Nearly 425 personnel are now on the ground, with helicopters and planes dropping water and slurry to slow the spread. Crews warn, though, that those air drops only buy time — the hard work comes from firefighters digging in at the fire lines.

Elsewhere in Wyoming, two more big fires are keeping crews busy. The Spring Creek Fire near Ten Sleep has burned about 3,500 acres, while the Sleeper Ranch Fire near Meeteetse has torched more than 20,000 acres, threatening sage grouse habitat and energy infrastructure.

For residents near the Red Canyon blaze, the danger is far from over. Officials caution homeowners against trying to defend their properties on their own — not only is it dangerous, it pulls critical resources away from the firefight. Fire managers are also warning drone operators to stay grounded; even a small drone in the air could force water and slurry aircraft to halt operations.

A community meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday at Hot Springs County High School in Thermopolis, where residents will get the latest updates on containment efforts, evacuation zones, and what comes next.

With Wyoming’s summer weather serving up thunderstorms — and the lightning that comes with them — firefighters know the battle is far from finished. For now, Gordon’s emergency declaration makes sure the state has every tool available to keep the flames from spreading even further.

With input from Oil City News, WyoFile, Cowboy State Daily, and Sheridan Media.