Big Horn County Emergency Management

04/01/2026

KANE FIRE UPDATE: CLEAN-UP CREWS NEED SPACE!
Lovell WY — The Kane Fire is now 100 percent contained.
Current Operations/Objectives
Fire crews are gradually being reduced in number. The remaining personnel continue to monitor fire hazards and carry out hazard tree mitigation efforts. Despite the cooler and wetter weather conditions, residual heat may persist in standing cottonwood trees and roots, potentially creating safety hazards.
Closures and Public Safety
The burn area and its access roads will remain temporarily closed while crews conduct hazardous tree removal. Once this work has been completed, the roads will be reopened. The public is requested to observe these temporary closures to facilitate efficient completion of the work and to ensure public safety. The remainder of the Yellowtail Habitat roads have been opened.
Photo Credits- NPS photos

03/27/2026

Kane Fire Update
Bighorn Canyon News Release Kane Fire update-

Containment Reaches 75%, Crews Begin Transition
For Immediate Release: March 27, 2026

The Kane Fire is now 75 percent contained, showing strong progress as firefighters continue their work. With fire activity decreasing, the number of personnel assigned to the fire is being reduced, with about half of crews beginning to leave the area today.

Current Operations/Objectives: Keeping firefighters and the public safe remains the top priority. Over the weekend, crews will continue to check and patrol the fire area, put out remaining hot spots, and reinforce and secure containment lines. Some of this work is taking place in the areas with cottonwood trees, where heat can linger and standing dead trees can create hazards.

Fire Weather Outlook Today will be cool, sunny, dry, and breezy. Over the weekend, warmer temperatures and lighter winds are expected, which should help firefighters continue making progress.

Closures and Public Safety: All roads within the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area remain temporarily closed. The public is asked to respect these closures to ensure firefighter and public safety and to allow crews to operate effectively.

Additional Information: Beginning tomorrow, Kane Fire news releases will be issued as needed or intermittently, based on significant changes in fire activity, containment, or public safety conditions. Fire crews will continue to patrol, monitor, and mop up within the fire perimeter while working steadily toward full containment of the Kane Fire

Photo credit- Powell Tribune

03/25/2026

03/24/2026

Kane Fire update for today!

The Kane Fire remains approximately 1900 acres and Wildland fire managers estimate the fire’s containment at 10%. Additional Wildland fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, and cooperating agencies continue to assist with suppression efforts.

Current Operations/Objectives
Today’s objective is to continue patrolling and moping hotspots along the fire perimeter. Firefighters are strengthening containment lines and securing the fire in preparation for a forecasted increase in fire weather conditions on Wednesday, including unseasonably high temperatures, low humidity and gusting winds up to 40 mph.

Fire crews are utilizing a combination of direct and indirect suppression tactics, engaging the fire where conditions allow and reinforcing firelines to guide fire movement away from values at risk. Tactics will continue to adjust as weather, terrain, and fire behavior evolve, with the goal of safely containing the fire.

Fire Weather Outlook
Today’s weather is expected to be warm and dry, with a high near 72°F and lighter winds, resulting in elevated fire weather conditions.

A Fire Weather Watch is in place for Wednesday. Forecasted conditions include high temperatures near 82°F, low relative humidity, and wind gusts up to 40 mph
These conditions may lead to critical fire weather, increasing the potential for rapid fire spread and challenging containment efforts. Fire managers are preparing for more active fire behavior during this period.

Closures and Public Safety
All roads within the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area remain temporarily closed. The public is asked to respect these closures to ensure firefighter and public safety and to allow crews to operate effectively.

03/23/2026

Lovell WY — Bighorn Canyon News Release
________________________________________Kane Fire update
________________________________________
For Immediate Release: March 23, 2026
Lovell, WY — The Kane Fire grew to approximately 1900 acres Sunday, March 22. Wildland fire managers estimate the fire’s containment at 10%. Additional wildland fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, and cooperating agencies arrived Sunday evening to assist with suppression efforts.
The fire is currently burning mostly thick river bottom vegetation and is exhibiting fire behavior normally observed in August. Wildland fire crews are working to secure the fire perimeter to slow forward progress.
All roads on the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area remain temporarily closed. Public access is restricted during this short-term closure period.
Today’s weather is warm and dry with a high of 70 degrees with light winds. Tomorrow winds increase with gusts up to 20 mph and highs in the 80s.
Local communities and park visitors will continue to see smoke from the fire area as firefighters work to suppress the fire. Smoke is expected to settle into low-lying areas in the evenings. To learn more about living near wildfire smoke, please visit AirNow.gov.

Updates on the Yellowtail Habitat Fire will be posted as additional information becomes available.

03/23/2026

Update on the Kane Fire

≈1 Mile Northwest of Hwy 14A & Road 20, East of Lovell

03/22/2026

Big Horn County First Responders and BLM are working hard to keep everyone safe while working to contain the Kane Fire outside of Lovell. BLM is planning some air drops this afternoon. We request that everyone stay out of the area to allow responders to work effectively and keep everyone safe!

11/24/2025

Sheridan - The popular scenic byway over the Bighorn Mountains will close on Monday, December 1, at noon.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation seasonally closes U.S. 14A - a 22-mile stretch of scenic mountain road over the Bighorns in north-central Wyoming at the end of the fall hunting season.

WYDOT closes U.S. 14A seasonally as a safety precaution rather than as a reaction to storms. Heavy snows, drifting, and relatively light traffic during the winter months make snow removal of the mountain portion of U.S. 14A impractical.
WYDOT crews from both Lovell and Burgess Junction will make one final sweep of the U.S.14A route on Monday, December 1 to ensure all motorists are off the mountain and then close the gates for the season at Noon.

Those seasonal road closure gates are located at Burgess Junction (just east of milepost 98.1) and on the Lovell side of the mountain near milepost 76.04.
During this seasonal closure, motorists can use U.S. 14 via Granite Pass and Greybull to travel to and from Sheridan or Lovell. Motorists are encouraged to check current road conditions for this route before departing by either calling 5-1-1, downloading the WYO511 app, or going online to www.wyoroad.info.

WYDOT typically opens U.S. 14A by Memorial Day weekend, or as weather allows.

09/04/2025

Update on the plane crash in the Big Horns

09/02/2025