Multiple fires keep departments busy

WORLAND – A series of local fires and smoke reports kept area firefighters busy this weekend, most notably on two fires south of Worland.

Bureau of Land Management Bighorn/Wind River District spokesperson Sarah Beckwith said that the 2,448-acre Potter Butte Fire south of Worland is now 100 percent contained, per the BLM at noon on Saturday. The fire affected 2,248 acres of private and public land.

A 3 p.m. on Saturday, firefighting units from Washakie and Hot Springs counties, the BLM, Bureau of Indian affairs and Forest Service responded to a lightning-induced fire on Zimmerman Butte, south of Worland and east of Kirby.

As of Monday, the fire had affected 3,857 acres of public and private lands, and was estimated to be 80 percent contained Monday afternoon.

Beckwith noted that the departments hoped to have the fire 100 percent contained by Monday evening.

Overall, Washakie County Dispatch reported seven fire calls since Friday, with two in the Ten Sleep area, the Zimmerman and Potter Butte fires, and reports of smoke from the continuing fires in the area.