An unattended campfire escaped its fire pit, destroyed a camper and burned across a few acres at a Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area campsite earlier this month.

On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 10, campers at the Trail Creek Campground at Barry’s Landing had made dinner over a campfire, then moved into the camper to eat dinner. According to a news release from Bighorn Canyon officials, the individuals had left the fire unattended for less than 10 minutes when they heard other campers yelling, “fire!”

“It appears that the wind came up and blew the unattended fire to the surrounding vegetation while the occupants were inside the camper,” said Chief Interpretive Ranger Christy Fleming. Thanks to the warnings from the fellow campers, the people in the camper were able to get out before it caught on fire.

The Lovell Fire Department was paged to the scene and arrived within a half-hour.

“Their rapid response ensured that the fire was contained to 3 acres even in the extremely windy conditions,” Fleming said; 10 cottonwood trees were lost. The Lovell crews, who arrived in six engines, kept the fire from damaging campground facilities and from reaching the historic Hillsboro Ranch.

“The National Park Service very much appreciates their response,” Fleming said.

Once Lovell Fire Department had the fire contained, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service wildland fire teams monitored, checked for hot spots and mopped up the fire. The fire was considered out by early afternoon on Sunday, Oct. 11. 

The Trail Creek Campground remained open following the fire, though Campsite C24 has been temporarily closed until the remains of the camper can be removed and the site cleaned.

“This fall has been unseasonably warm and dry which has led to several days with red flag warnings,” Fleming noted. “Bighorn Canyon staff would like to remind visitors to build fires only in the designated fire pits, do not leave fires unattended, and ensure all fires are dead out before leaving.”