Cause determined in Wildcat Fire - KOTA Territory News

Cause determined in Wildcat Fire

UPDATE - 8:25PM 9-14:

The Wildcat Fire located approximately 15 miles south of Newcastle, WY is now 100% contained.  A transfer of command will take place to a Type 4 organization lead by Incident Commander Bryce Stanton. Stanton said "I would like to thank all the firefighters  for their hard work. There have been no accidents or injuries, no structures threatened, and the fire did not grow in size after the first twenty four hours, which is a credit to the Type 3 team and initial attack resources." Demobilization of resources has begun. There are three type six engines and an incident commander that will remain assigned to the Wildcat Fire. Fire officials would like to remind people that they may see smoldering fuels and smoke in the fire area. Firefighters will continue to actively patrol the Wildcat and Kinney Fires. This is the final update from the Wildcat Fire.  

UPDATE - 8:40AM 9-14:

The Wildcat Fire, burning south of Newcastle is nearly contained. Crews will finish fire line construction and mop up operations Friday. Resources will also be released. The fire held steady at 75 acres. The cause has been determined to be lightning.

UPDATE - 7:30PM 9-13:

Significant progress was made on the Wildcat Fire. Favorable weather and hard work by firefighters kept the fire at 75 acres and increased containment to 92%.  The Wildcat Fire is burning approximately 15 miles south of Newcastle, WY. The cause of the fire has been determined to be lightning. Incident Commander Todd Hoover said "Firefighters had a successful day of constructing fireline, mopping up and securing the fireline perimeter." Resources on scene include state (both Wyoming and South Dakota), local, and volunteer fire departments, as well as Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. There are 120 personnel assigned to the incident.

UPDATE - 5:35PM 9-13:

Fire crews are in the final mop up stages on the Wildcat Fire in eastern Wyoming.

Firefighters from as far away as California and Florida are attacking the blaze, which is believed to have been started by lightning Tuesday night 16 miles south of Newcastle.

It has burned more than 70 acres & is 50% contained as of last night, but should be contained by tomorrow .

Incident commander Todd Hoover told us, despite the cooler temperatures he expects a much longer fire season this year than normal, "With fire season running for several months here in the Black Hills, folks are becoming tired and are looking forward to snow coming, so we can have some time off"

This is the third fire in the last 10 years to strike that area.