Powell residents on Friday who looked east to the Bighorns could glimpse a huge cloud of smoke rising over the mountains.

That fire, the Elk Lake Fire roughly 6 miles northwest of Dayton, had grown to 22,000 acres by Monday afternoon, according to a release from the Bighorn National Forest.

The fire significantly increased in size Sunday and into Monday morning, and all air operations were put on hold for several hours due to high winds, according to the release. Evacuations were issued along Pass Creek and Sheridan County Road 144; Pass Creek is closed to all nonresident traffic.

WYDOT has closed U.S. Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction to all public travel. 

Fire crews continue to focus on structures protection along the face of the mountain along Pass Creek toward Dayton. And as of the morning of Sept. 30, out-building structures have likely been lost, the release states. Local law enforcement and firefighters are working with the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office to notify property owners of structures lost. 

According to the release, fire crews will focus on working to protect structures along the face of the mountain in the Pass Creek, Smith Creek and Twin Creek areas. Sheridan County Fire provided structure protection work all throughout Sunday night into early Monday morning.

A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered to take over command of the fire. Wyoming Type III will remain in place until a transition can occur.

The lightning caused fire started Friday.

The objective is to protect critical values at risk, the release states. These values include firefighter and public safety, lands and property off National Forest Lands, two cow camps and a radio repeater site.

The strategy is full suppression. The team is utilizing all available tactics with firefighter and public safety as the primary decision driver. The approach to suppress the fire will be conducive to the terrain, conditions, and medical team response time.

The cooler weather this week could change the growth of the fire, the release states, while the column of smoke rising over the mountains is expected to continue.

A closure order is in effect to protect the safety of firefighters and the public.  An area including, Forest System Roads 145,150, 114, and portions of 167 and 168 along with Forest System Trails 201, 077, and 428  will be closed to public entry.

Sheridan County has closed Pass Creek Road, Twin Creek, Smith Creek Road, and Tongue River Canyon Road to nonresident travel.

Residences have been evacuated. Law enforcement and fire personnel are contacting affected people directly. If people need shelter for livestock or themselves, call Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174.

This order is being put in place to protect firefighter and visitor safety. The roads are being heavily used by firefighters, including large equipment. People are asked to avoid travel in the general area. People who need to remove personal equipment from the closure area or roads behind it, can contact 307-683-7019.