LANDER, Wyo. — Fremont County Emergency Management (FCEM) is utilizing the “Ready, Set, Go” evacuation status scale to protect the public from the Weiser Knoll Fire, burning on approximately 9,600 acres of Bureau of Land Management land southeast of Lander.

Residents of the Twin Creek drainage area east of WY28 at Johnnie Lee’s Corner and south of US287 were ordered to evacuate last night around 8:30 p.m. According to FCEM’s Monday morning Facebook update, overnight winds moved the fire from South Pass to Twin Creek Road, creating “two significant columns of fire” near Twin Creek. Structure losses include a Conex storage container and an older barn. The blaze is zero percent contained.

“The fire was caused by a mechanical failure on a trailer wheel that was being towed, Chief Wempen shared, which led to three fires starting a short distance apart on the east side of Johnnie Lee’s Corner at around 2:30 p.m.,” County10 reported Monday morning.

Air support is underway this morning and federal resources are on the way, per FCEM.

For those unfamiliar with wildfire evacuation orders, here’s a breakdown:

  1. SET: Prepare to take action. Stay tuned to local alerts and trustworthy sources of emergency information. If you anticipate evacuations, leave early if you have large animals, need extra time, or feel your life is in danger.
  2. GO!: Evacuate. Leave immediately, as instructed by officials. Do not hesitate. Remember to bring your pets and emergency supply kit.
  3. STAY!: Shelter in place. Stay tuned to local notification systems.
  4. AVOID!: Stay away from the designated area.

Wildfire season is a great time to get a family emergency plan together.

Part of emergency preparedness includes knowing the “Eight P’s” that belong in a “Go bag”:

  1. People and pets (needs and special considerations)
  2. Pictures and photo albums
  3. Personal computers
  4. Papers (important documents)
  5. Prescriptions and medications (for the pets, too)
  6. Plastics (credit cards)
  7. Personal devices (phones and chargers)
  8. Passports and IDs

Remember to keep the “Go bag” and its packing list easily accessible. Get more ideas at ready.gov/kit.

Marianne is the Editor of Buckrail. She handles breaking news and reports on a little bit of everything. She's interested in the diversity of our community, arts/entertainment and crazy weather.