Crews battle fourth fire near Hyattville

WORLAND — Multiple agencies fought a nearly 500-acre blaze nine miles north of Hyattville Monday night.

According to Sarah Beckwith, public affairs officer with the Bureau of Land Management Wind River/Bighorn Basin District, the Alkali Flats Fire started on BLM land and moved on to state land. The fire was wind-driven, burning through grass and sagebrush.

Tuesday morning the fire was at 285 acres and Beckwith said firefighters were expecting full containment Tuesday. She added that after firefighters marked GPS points along the perimeter on Tuesday to confirm the size it was at 437 acres.

The fire was first reported at about 5:15 p.m.

Beckwith said fire departments from Big Horn and Washakie counties assisted the BLM in fighting the fire. Bighorn and Shoshone national forests also provided resources.

Beckwith said just like the three fires near Hyattville on Friday, Monday’s fire is also considered to be human caused and under investigation.

Anyone with information about the Alkali Flats Fire, or any of the three human-caused fires that started late Friday night between Ten Sleep and Hyattville, should contact BLM Law Enforcement Officer Robert Lind at 307-899-656.

Beckwith said, “As we’ve seen already this summer, cheatgrass and last year’s dried grasses are burning easily and wind is carrying fires quickly. It only takes one small spark to start a wildfire so please be careful when you’re out recreating and do your part to prevent wildfires. Remember, fireworks are banned on public land. On July 4, the gravel pit along the road to the Washakie County Landfill is the only exception to that ban.”