Storm brings fires

The Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department responded to three calls Sunday evening as lightning lit up the sky and ignited dry grasses.

Chief Mark Collins reported 21 personnel responded to three fires, reported on Black Mountain Road, 12 miles west along Highway 120 and west of Wind River Canyon. Among the three fires, he noted, there were two actually sighted

Thankfully, the storm also brought plenty of rain with it to help put the fires down. Collins said the fires near the canyon and on Highway 120 were doused by the hard rain. The one on Black Mountain Road, he said, was actually in Washakie County. Thermopolis called to see if the neighboring department needed assistance, but the fire was small enough they had it under control.

Since that contact, however, a fire in Washakie and Big Horn counties has grown to burn more than 36,000 acres.

A new fire in Hot Springs County, dubbed the Packsaddle Fire, was reported at about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday night, about 2.5 miles southeast of Murphy Dome Oil Field. The fire was contained and extinguished that night.

Though fireworks are typically associated with grass fires, Collins said this year “the town was good to us” and there were no reports of any blazes caused by fireworks on Independence Day. He noted there were only a couple small fires, about five or ten square feet, near the skate park where people were allowed to light off personal fireworks July 4. There were also no fireworks related injuries reported.