Wildfire in Owl Creek & Bridger Mountains, Wyoming

The Red Canyon fire started on the northern foothills of the Bridger Mountains in Hot Springs County on the afternoon of August 13th due to a lightning strike. The fire had grown to 3,000 acres by August 14th. A combination of hot and dry conditions as well as gusty wind caused the fire to exhibit extreme fire behavior and spread rapidly, especially on August 16th when several evacuations were ordered to the southeast of Thermopolis and fire spread from Hot Springs county into northern Fremont County. The fire had grown to over 100,000 acres by August 20th as the hot and dry conditions continued. Containment increased starting on August 22nd as cooler weather and higher humidity moved in. The fire was 80 percent contained by August 27th, and all evacuations and road closures were lifted. All in all, time Red Canyon fire burned nearly 125,000 acres.