GOSHEN COUNTY – Area fire departments had a busy weekend as multiple thunderstorms which produced dry lightning rolled through Goshen County. 

According to a Facebook post on Saturday evening, Yoder Volunteer Fire Department (YVFD) responded to a mutual aid request for a large fire southwest of Hawk Springs. 

“Fire units from Goshen County, Platte County, Laramie County, and Albany County have been battling a large grass fire in southern Goshen County, just south of (Wyoming State Highway) 313 since 6:57 p.m. (July 13). The fire is not contained as of this posting at 12:35 a.m. (July 14). Thank you to the Emporium for providing dinner for the firefighters,” Goshen County Emergency Management posted on their page. “And thanks to Banner County Nebraska Fire Departments who responded and handled a different grass fire in La Grange’s district while our units fought this one.”

YVFD reported a smoke plume was visible on the weather radar as the blazer roared on through Lone Tree Canyon on highway 313 and the department was able to send five trucks to assist in the mutual aid request. 

“At 2:15 a.m., fire command indicated the fire is now controlled. Units will be working overnight and through tomorrow conducting mop-up and flare-up suppression. Initial estimates put the fire at approximately 3,300 acres,” Goshen County Emergency Management said in an updated post on Sunday, July 14. 

During the July 14, 10 a.m. update, the emergency management team reported the fire had flare-ups throughout the early morning hours on Sunday, July 14. 

“10 a.m. update - overnight the fire continued burning with several blowouts and flareups. Several utility poles were burned beyond usage and Wyrulec is on scene and taking care of those as the area becomes safe. State single engine tankers have begun dropping retardant on the southeast side of the fire where it’s trying to reignite due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions. BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has a type one helicopter enroute as well as a Helitack,” Goshen County Emergency Management posted July 14. “Unfortunately, we did have one firefighter taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.”

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14, emergency management crews had the fire 100% contained. 

“At this time the fire in southern Goshen County, named the Road 22 Fire, is 100% contained. The official size of the fire is 5,576.5 acres,” Goshen County Emergency Management posted Sunday evening. “The firefighter that was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation was released this morning and is said to be feeling fine. There were no losses to cattle or structures from the fire.”

Within the five local volunteer fire departments, the Road 22 Fire had over 50 fire apparatus on the scene.

“Thank you to the staggering amount of volunteers that responded from Platte County, Laramie County, Albany County and to our local county fire volunteers. From the start of the fire up until 4 a.m. last night, there were 57 fire apparatus on scene, each manned by two volunteers,” Goshen County Emergency Management posted on Facebook Sunday. “Additionally, there were six command/support vehicles assisting. Without this overwhelming response, this fast-moving fire could have been much worse. We’d like to also thank Banner County Nebraska for backfilling two smaller grass fires while we worked this one. A big thank you to all our men and women who volunteer to keep us safe,” emergency management added.

Torrington Volunteer Fire Department responded to a mutual aid call on Saturday, July 13 from Lingle for a grass fire near Tea Kettle Road and a fire at the TDS landfill, west of town, around the same time as the Road 22 Fire.

Additional fire information to be provided as information becomes available.