Wyoming Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Wyoming - June 23, 2026

Overview

Wyoming is experiencing an elevated fire risk due to a hot, dry spring, ongoing drought, and below-normal precipitation that has significantly slowed vegetation green-up. This combination of factors, along with dead brush, invasive grasses, and timber killed by disease and insect infestation, has led to potentially risky situations for wildfires across the state. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has forecasted above-normal significant wildfire potential for northeastern Wyoming, which is expected to shift into the southwest later in the summer. The current Preparedness Level for the Great Basin region has been elevated to 3, indicating a high commitment of wildland fire resources.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: There are currently multiple active fires in Wyoming, and significant wildland fire activity is occurring across the state, requiring coordinated support to manage incident objectives. So far this year, nearly 400 wildfires have impacted over 20,000 acres across all lands within Wyoming. Fire danger in areas such as the Teton Interagency Dispatch area is currently considered "high." Firefighters are actively working to extinguish new lightning-caused starts while preparing for the potential of dry thunderstorms in the coming days.

Key Fires:
Raven Creek Fire: Located in Weston County, approximately 13 miles southwest of Moorcroft, this fire has burned 4,245 acres. It was caused by a downed powerline and has been fueled by dry grasses and rangeland vegetation. While crews have successfully constructed containment lines and reached 100% containment, firefighters continue to actively monitor the area for hotspots due to severe fire weather conditions.

Boulder Creek Fire: Sparked by lightning on Sunday, June 21, 2026, this new start is located on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, about a mile west of the Jack Pine Summer Homes in Granite Creek. Currently estimated at 0.25 acres, it is burning in timber and dry brush. Teton Helitack personnel are implementing a direct extinguishment strategy using a Type 3 helicopter to protect nearby properties and values at risk.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: Land managers and rangeland specialists are actively engaged in post-fire restoration efforts across the state, focusing on mitigating the spread of highly flammable invasive cheatgrass in sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. Additionally, the Wyoming Forestry Conservation Program has deployed its "Smokebuster" crew—consisting of fire-qualified inmates—to assist with critical fuel mitigation and conservation projects.

Air Quality: While large-scale smoke impacts are currently limited, localized smoke from new lightning starts and smoldering fires may impact areas near the Bridger-Teton National Forest and western Wyoming. Residents in these areas should remain aware of shifting wind patterns and use caution.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: Currently, conditions are cloudy with temperatures in the low 50s and higher humidity in some areas, providing a brief reprieve. However, dry thunderstorms remain a significant threat across the western and northern parts of the state, bringing dangerous lightning and gusty outflow winds.

Forecasted Weather: Severe Red Flag Warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service for central and southeastern Wyoming, including Natrona, Albany, Goshen, and Laramie counties. A strong drying trend is expected over the next 72 hours. A combination of unseasonably warm temperatures, critically low relative humidity (dropping to 10-20%), and strong west/northwest winds gusting 35 to 55 mph will create extreme fire weather conditions. Any fires that develop under these conditions will likely spread rapidly.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Outdoor burning is highly discouraged due to the Red Flag Warnings. Residents and visitors are reminded to never leave campfires unattended and to fully extinguish them using the "drown, stir, feel" method until ashes are cold to the touch. It is crucial to have an emergency plan in place and to clear dead brush from properties to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.

Resource Allocation: Firefighters are working under challenging conditions with a high volume of new starts and an increasing threat of dry lightning. Aviation resources, including Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters, are staged and actively responding. State and federal agencies are conducting readiness training for seasonal fire modules to ensure rapid response to high-risk areas.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Wyoming State Forestry Division: wsfd.wyo.gov

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.