North Eastern Wyoming Fires Out Of Control & Growing

In the southern parts of eastern Wyoming folks complained about the smoke.

But they had no idea how bad it really was in northeastern Wyoming, where that smoke was coming from.

Near Buffalo, over 163,000 acres in Johnson County are burning and that fire is growing.

It's been bad for ranchers in every possible way, but also bad for the wildfire in the area. There have been many reports of dead antelope, burning.

It's all hands on deck as firefighters and volunteers came in from Sheridan, Campbell, Fremont, Weston, and Converse counties. Even the fire department from Bar Nunn was called up to help.

Firefighting planes of all sizes have been roaring in and out of the Casper/Natrona County airport and the air space over the fire is restricted to all but firefighting planes.

Campbel County is having its own problems with the Flatrock, Bone Creek, and Constitution fires. All of those were started by lighting, as well.

Some residents of Campbell County have had to evacuate their homes. A shelter has been set up at the Camplex in Gillette for those who need it, and some have taken advantage of that offer.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has released a statement on the wildfires that are currently raging in Wyoming.

Thank you to the dedicated Wyoming fire crews who are diligently working to contain the numerous wildfires throughout the state. It is demanding work, and it is important we do all we can to assist them in their effort to protect lives and property.

There was a section of Interstate 90, between Buffalo and Gillette, that was closed on Thursday. Even parts of Interstate 25 were closed for a time.

All roadways were open again by Friday morning.

But smoke in the area is heavy and travel is not advised unless it's necessary.

Social media is filled with photos and videos from residents.

Some of what is posted shows massive clouds of smoke and fire. Other posts show blackened prairie.

One post of a lighting-caused fire was as far down as Natural Bridge, near Douglas.

Mother Nature will not cooperate this weekend.

It's more wind and dry conditions, unfortunately.

Let's have a closer look at those firefighting planes

It's a good thing that the Casper/Natrona County airport had just finished upgrading their facilities, in time for this fire.

The Casper/Natrona County International Airport is enjoying its upgraded firefighting planes.

Nobody likes a summer fire, but it does keep the airport busy with interesting water bombers coming and going.

The airport has been posting photos and videos of these fantastic planes on its Facebook page.

For several years the two firefighting planes would arrive for fire season and park in a temporary area on the east corner of the airport.

They would run a long hose from a fire hydrant to a holding tank to refill the planes for another fire run.

Yes, the big boys have found a new home in central Wyoming.

While stationed in Casper, these serious firefighting machines have a long range and can fight across several states.

Before the new facilities she built at the fire season's end, they would pack up and go home.

Now, for some of these planes, Casper is home.

Now, they have a permanent base at the airport, and they no longer need to run a long hose to a fire hydrant.

After six years of planning, designing, and construction, the Airport grounds are now the home base for a new BLM Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) and Large Air Tankers (LAT) Base.

HOLD ON- what is a SEAT and LAT base?

It's a base that loads firefighting aircraft with anything they need, from water to chemicals, to fight fires. That's the most simple, nontechnical explanation there is.

Below is the new cover photo for the Casper/Natrona County Airport.

The facility was constructed in Collaboration with BLM, Wyoming State Forestry Division, and U.S. Forest Service.

It is the only base in the country jointly built by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service.

Below is an exciting video of a firefighting plane from Casper in action.

Casper is also the exclusive home to two SEAT planes, contracted by the Wyoming State Forestry Division.

The modernized base now has the ability to load two planes (SEAT and/or LAT) at the same time with a maximum daily output of 80,000–90,000 gallons of mixed retardant compared to the previous 15,000-gallon output.

Future plans include the construction of a new heli-base adjacent to the SEAT/LAT base for the State Forestry Division.