Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Tracie Mitchell

The Hatchery Fire six miles northeast of Ten Sleep grew quickly Friday afternoon. According to the Washakie County Dispatch, Ten Sleep Fire Department was initially called out to the Hatchery Fire at 12:38 p.m. to milepost 34 on U.S. Highway 16. Worland Fire was dispatched at 1:22 p.m. Additional resources were added later including two air tankers, a very large air tanker has been ordered, according to Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Services Predictive Services. Two single engine air tankers (SEATs) have also been committed. The fire, as of 3:30 p.m. had grown to about 100 acres. According to a Washakie County deputy on scene, cause of the fire is unknown but it appears to have started just off the highway. The Wyoming Department of Transportation closed U.S. 16 from Highway 435 to the Sheep Mountain Road Friday afternoon due to the fire. The National Weather Service had a red flag warning for Friday due to potential gusts of up to 55 mph from a cold front moving into the area.