Wyoming Moonshine Fire Update, Wednesday 09/16/26

There is some good news on the Moonshine Fire, southwest of Wheatland. It is over 47% contained as of the last report. But there is still a lot of work to be done.

Here is the latest information that was posted on the Moonshine Fire Information page on Facebook.

Moonshine Fire daily update:

FIRE STATUS
7,279 Acres | 47% Contained | 298 Personnel

Information number: (307) 295-2770
2026.moonshine@firenet.gov

Emergency managers lifted all active evacuation orders for the Bookout Ranch Area as of 9:00 AM on Tuesday morning, and all zones have transitioned back to a "Ready" status.

Widespread rain and lightning on Sunday night shifted conditions along fireline access roads. On Monday morning, incident personnel evaluated routes and scouted for new activity before clearing crews for field operations. Although recent rainfall temporarily slowed fire spread, long-term drought conditions and lightning activity maintain a high risk for new fire starts.

A large fire blazing in the sky over a forest

OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Along the southern perimeter, crews increased containment near Government Peak. Firefighters are utilizing a direct extinguishment strategy toward Moonshine Gulch, engaging the active flame front directly to stop fire spread, build depth, and secure control lines. Along the eastern perimeter, crews transitioned to suppression repair. Heavy equipment operators are using road graders to smooth out dozer lines, flatten berms, and minimize long-term impacts on the landscape.

Along the Laramie River corridor on the northeastern perimeter, crews are scouting for secondary contingency lines, access roads, and structures. The steep and rugged canyon terrain continues to limit accessibility and increase safety risks for personnel. In the Bookout Ranch area, firefighters continue to secure additional containment lines and structure protection. Following these actions and recent rainfall, emergency managers lifted all active evacuation orders and downgraded all zones to a "Ready" status. Pockets of interior fuels will continue to smolder and produce visible smoke today.

WEATHER
A cold front passed through Monday night. Tuesday's decreased temperatures and increased humidity will moderate fire behavior. Warmer conditions will return midweek, with breezy winds and a chance of daily thunderstorms expected throughout the rest of the week.

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction in place.
Please avoid using drones in the area. If you fly, they can’t.