STURGIS, S.D. – Dry conditions throughout the summer coupled with warmer than average late summer temperatures, little rain and plenty of wind and you have a recipe for wildfire.
Parts of Northeast Wyoming and Northeast Montana have gone up in flames that fire response teams and ranchers are calling “catastrophic.”
As of Thursday mid-day, August 29, 2004, the Remington Fire in northern Sheridan County, Wyoming and southern Montana has burned 196,459 acres and is 61% contained; the House Draw Fire is at 175,000 acres and 91% contained; the Flat Rock Fire 52, 421 acres and 75% contained; and the Constitution Fire near Gilette is 24,594 acres burned at 57% contained. All total, 449,000 acres have been scorched.
Monty Lesh, Miles City, MT, who represents the Southeast District of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, describes the area as pine and cedar, and open grass – ranch country
