Silly Conspiracy Theories Surround Wyoming’s Elk Fire

Around a thousand firefighters are battling a pair of wildfires in Wyoming.

ELK INCIDENT

Type: WF - Wildfire
Area Acres Burned: 96,360
Percent Contained: 51%

Officials say the fires were sparked by lightning strikes.

But there are always those conspiracy theories.

Some social media posts have claimed a connection between the elk fire’s growth and lithium deposits.

The idea is that the land must be cleared so that mining can begin, and what few residents are in the area must be forced out.

Those Wyoming lithium discoveries are not in the Bighorn Mountains.

They are in Natrona County and farther below.

Much bigger deposits are located near Wheatland, far south of the Bighorn Mountains.

Nobody is trying to force anyone out with fire.

Fire officials have not pushed for evacuations. They have done all they could to preserve homes, ranches, and other businesses and buildings.

Below is the latest Elk Fire Update.

Recent snow events up in the Bighorns have helped calm this massive fire.

But it's not out yet.

Officials are warning residents to not be complacent.

The good news is that more winter weather is heading toward those mountains.

Expect a shot of cold, wet weather every 3 days or so for the next few weeks.

Highway 14 will remain closed until repairs on the road can be made.

This includes guard rails that have burned out.

This fire season will come to an end, then regrowth will begin.

In the long run, fire is healthy for these mountains and the prairies below.

In the short term, they take a toll on the humans who have spent a lifetime building their lives and communities in the area.

This, too, will be rebuilt.