Fire crews made significant progress on the Kane Fire on Tuesday, increasing containment to 30%. Due to their efforts, firefighters are in a strong position moving forward and will continue working to safely suppress the fire and secure containment lines, according to the National Park Service.

Wednesday, crews planned to continue to patrol, monitor, and mop up areas within the fire perimeter while reinforcing containment lines. Tactics employed continued to be adjusted as weather, terrain, and fire behavior evolved, with the goal of safely containing and suppressing the fire. In anticipation of increased winds, firefighters developed a tactical plan to adjust operations during peak wind periods, with particular attention to areas containing cottonwood trees and other heavy fuels that presented elevated risk during strong winds and gusty conditions.

A Red Flag Warning was in effect Tuesday from noon to 9 p.m. in the region, which brought critical fire weather conditions, including peak gusts around 45 mph, low relative humidity and above-normal temperatures.

The conditions concerned those leading the effort due to increased fire activity and rapid fire spread, particularly in cottonwood trees and other receptive fuels in the fire area. Fire crews planned to modify operations as needed during peak conditions to ensure safety.

Today (Thursday), conditions are expected to improve with cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and continued breezy winds. Friday, fire behavior is expected to moderate; however, crews will remain engaged in suppression, patrol, and mop-up operations.

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.

Local communities and visitors to the area may continue to see smoke from the fire. Smoke is expected to settle into low-lying areas during the evening and overnight hours.

Updates on the Kane Fire will be posted on the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area social media channels and website as new information becomes available.

The Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area is located approximately 6 miles east of Lovell and encompasses 19,288 acres. Established in the early 1960s, the area supports waterfowl habitat through a cooperative agreement between the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, National Park Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Land Management.