Containment expected on wildland fires by Saturday

WORLAND - Three fires that started Thursday afternoon should all be contained by Saturday, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

According to the Big Horn County Fire Warden, Hyattville Fire Department and BHC Fire Warden responded for a mutual aide wildland fire reported in the area of North Brokenback, in Washakie County. The fire was burning in rugged and rough terrain.

BLM Public Spokesperson Emmett Press said the Brokenback Fire, which started just before 1 p.m., has burned about 20 acres, is expected to be contained this evening.

According to the Worland Volunteer Fire Department, through their Facebook page, at 3:02 p.m., Worland Volunteer Fire Department was called to an area south of Banjo Road for a report of smoke. Upon arrival three separate fires were found in the area from lightning strikes. Two of the fires merged into one, called the Corbin fire.

The second fire is called the Banjo fire.

No injuries have been reported.

Press said the BLM will be running a GPS track on the Corbin and Banjo fires to get an accurate acreage this afternoon, but they are estimated at 200-300 acres total.

Containment on both fires is expected on Saturday, Press said, "as long as weather conditions remain favorable."

There are no road closures with any of the fires and no closures are anticipated. No structures are at risk.

In addition to BLM crews, assisting with firefighting efforts were crews from Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie County fire departments, Shoshone and Bighorn National Forests, two BLM air tankers and a Wyoming State helicopter.

Press said that officially the cause for each fire is still under investigation, but it is presumed they started from lightning strikes.