Tongue River Fire Dist- Ranchester Fire

09/04/2026

Sheridan County fire officials are urging residents and visitors to use extreme caution as critical fire weather conditions continue across the area. County volunteer fire departments responded to two wildfires on Thursday, September 3rd, both caused by sparks from vehicles. The largest fire occurre...

09/03/2026

Calls for August
17 calls to service.
8 Medical Calls
3 Motor Vehicle Accidents
2 Smoke Alarms/False Alarms
2 Grassfires
1 Smoke Investigation
1 Canceled Enroute

1 Business meeting and 1 Training meeting.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

MDT, Sep 3rd 2026
alert legend
MTZ131>133-WYZ274-040900-
/O.NEW.KBYZ.FW.A.0007.260904T1800Z-260905T0300Z/
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District
Custer Natl Forest-Custer County-
Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest-Sheridan County-
253 AM MDT Thu Sep 3 2026
..FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Billings has issued a Fire Weather
Watch...which is in effect from Friday afternoon through Friday
evening.

* IMPACTS: Low humidities, hot temperatures, and strong gusty winds
will create erratic fire behavior.

* AFFECTED AREA:
In North Central WY Fire Zone...274.
In Southeast MT Fire Zones...131...132.
In Southeast MT and Northwest SD Fire Zone...133.

* COUNTIES AFFECTED:
In North Central WY...Sheridan.
In Northwest SD...Harding.
In South Central MT...Big Horn.
In Southeast MT...Carter...Custer...Fallon...Powder River
Rosebud...Treasure.

* WIND: Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY: As low as 10 percent.

* TEMPERATURES: Up to 98.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red
Flag Warnings.

09/02/2026

MTZ129-WYZ284-031815-
/O.NEW.KBYZ.FW.W.0010.260903T1800Z-260904T0300Z/
Crow Indian Reservation/Bighorn Canyon Rec Area-
Bighorn National Forest-
1210 PM MDT Wed Sep 2 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT THURSDAY...

The National Weather Service in Billings has issued a Red Flag
Warning...which is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS: Low humidities and strong gusty winds will create
erratic fire behavior.

* AFFECTED AREA:
In North Central WY Fire Zone...284.
In South Central MT Fire Zone...129.

* COUNTIES AFFECTED:
In North Central WY...Big Horn...Johnson...Sheridan...Washakie.
In South Central MT...Big Horn...Carbon...Yellowstone.

* WIND: South 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY: As low as 12 percent.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS: The strongest winds, and area of greatest
concern, in MTZ129 are forecast in the western portion of the
zone.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are
either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong
winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute
to extreme fire behavior.

08/29/2026

Hey all!! At 1pm we will be making a stop at the Wyo Rib Off at Tongue River Brewing Company! We will have a truck their for the kids, and the older kids 🤣😜, to check out and spray some water! So come see us there and then around 2pm grab a plate of BBQ! Town smells amazing and we sure cant wait to try some of it!

08/28/2026

After the lightning storm came through, Padlock Ranch took to the air over Tongue River Fire District — once yesterday evening and again first thing this morning — searching for any evidence of fire.

No fires were found in our district. Padlock did locate one fire in Clearmont's district, and Clearmont and Padlock have crews on it now.

Please stay watchful over the next several days. Lightning strikes can smolder and hold over, only showing smoke days later. If you spot smoke, don't assume someone else has already reported it — call it in.

That kind of head start matters, and this is the type of cooperation and neighborly care we engender in Sheridan County. Folks don't wait to be asked; they just go do it. Thank you to everyone at Padlock Ranch.

— Chief Jeff Barron

08/18/2026

Today, we thank our firefighters and all volunteer firefighters across the country.

When the tones go off, you are leaving work, kids’ sporting events, dinner with your family, a birthday party, or an outing with friends. You are walking into unknown situations for people you don’t know. You go because someone, somewhere, needs help—help in some of the most feared moments of their lives.

Being a volunteer is more than just putting on a coat and helmet. It’s an added commitment to the safety of your neighbors, your community, and people you have never met who are simply passing through your area. It’s late-night trainings and putting in hours at the station on the weekends.

Today, we say thank you. Thank you for choosing to take time away from your families, outside of your 9-to-5, to help keep your communities safe.

To all firefighters across the nation: your service matters, your sacrifice matters, and the lives you’ve touched matter.

08/14/2026

School starts back up in the tongue river valley on the 24th! Busses will be out all over getting kids to and from school and sports activities. Please slow down on yellow lights, and stop when they are flashing red. Keep our kids safe.

Here’s a little school bus refresher:🟡 Yellow means slow. 🛑 Red means stop.
A school bus with its stop-arm out and flashing lights means STOP; kids are crossing.