We were just there to help each other. It was magical to watch how everybody was doing what needed to be done to help, –Shawna Reichert”

GUERNSEY – A call came into Platte County Dispatch Center approximately 2:02 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, that has upended life in Guernsey and the surrounding area for the foreseeable future.

A fire, whose cause is still under investigation, was sighted and reported on Pleasant Valley Road, and fire crews from around the county were dispatched immediately to assist in the rural residential area that lies in a winding valley between the towns of Guernsey and Hartville. The hot, dry conditions and heavy fuel load of the mostly brush and grass-covered, rocky hills and valleys of the area contributed to the quickly spreading, intense fire that stayed ahead of fire suppression efforts long into the night, when the Pleasant Valley Fire merged with a previously 100-percent-contained Haystack Fire in neighboring Goshen County.

Smoke and flames initially crept closer to the town of Guernsey before the fire headed in a more easterly direction, where it threatened Fort Laramie that same night, over 12 miles from its original starting location. Fire crews – and some would say God’s mercy – prevented the fire from continuing southward beyond the railroad tracks or the North Platte River, and though on standby for evacuation, Fort Laramie was spared.

The northward migration of the fire was of great concern to firefighters, who called for mandatory emergency evacuations of Hartville (a historic mining town with just one north-south highway access) by around 6 p.m., merely four hours after the call came into dispatch. (Though a 4 p.m. phone alert had warned residents with recommended evacuation preparations and vigilance.)

Black Hills Energy announced they shut off natural gas to Hartville out of an abundance of caution, and Wyrulec “de-energized” its service lines from Fort Laramie to Hartville and worked through the night to replace poles damaged by the fire, except those in areas experiencing flare-ups. 

US Highway 26 from Guernsey to Lingle, Highway 270 from Guernsey to Manville, Whalen Canyon Road, and all roads in Hartville were closed. Mandatory evacuations encompassed the aforementioned areas plus residences around the county line, and Airport Road, according to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post at the time. The entirety of US 26 was also closed from I-25 to Lingle during the more intense period of the night when the flames were crossing the highway. The portion from Guernsey to I-25 was re-opened the next morning.

Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center opened the new barracks at Building 106 for evacuees or anyone affected by the fire – and their pets, even if they simply needed rest.  American Red Cross of Wyoming opened overnight shelter services at the same location to provide assistance to evacuees, including immediate needs, supplies, mental health, prescription medication assistance, information services, and anything else needed for the temporarily homeless individuals.

The community of Guernsey and surrounding towns had jumped into action the first day of the fire, providing food, water, supplies, and hands to help provide meals and anything else needed to support the firefighters and individuals affected by the evacuations. Some outlying ranches away from the fire danger area offered a place for residents to evacuate their horses and other livestock, people stepped up to help find dogs that had escaped, and Crazy Tony’s opened their back room to store supplies and serve as a quasi-support room for assistance efforts.

By Wednesday morning, July 31, the fire had a 32-mile perimeter and was licking its way northward up Garnet Hill in the Haystack range. The Hartville uplift and Garnet Hill are separated by a valley navigated by Whalen County Road. The fire was zero percent contained, but reports by Wyoming State Forestry Division stated there were no structures lost to the fire at that time, and US Highway 26 was re-opened by mid-morning. A type 3 team was pulled together by the state’s forestry division to provide management of the fire.

While firefighting crews battled the blaze, residents of Hartville and Pleasant Valley Road were released back to their homes at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, with a warning to be vigilant of the fire that still had not been contained. The Red Cross closed their portion of the shelter. Platte County Emergency Management also announced no more donations were necessary, as firefighters were well-supplied.

Twenty-four hours later, fire conditions were described as “tense and rapidly evolving” according to a Platte County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook post.

Winds changed directions, causing flames to head west, back across Whalen Canyon and too close to Hartville and Sunrise for comfort. An evacuation order was re-issued at 5:03 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, and the Red Cross shelter re-opened for services.

At 3:27 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, the fire personnel advised the fire was at a level of control to make it safe for residents to return to their homes, however Highway 270, Whalen Canyon Road, and Pleasant Valley Road remained closed to non-resident traffic, according to a Platte County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.

At that time the fire was reported to be 30 percent contained, and 26,000 acres having burned, according to a public report issued by Wyoming Type III Team’s public information officer, Tyson Finnicum. The Wyoming Type III Team consists of interagency personnel from local, state, and federal agencies, and is in charge of incident command for the fire.

A community meeting was held at 4:30 p.m. the same day at Guernsey-Sunrise school to give a report on the fire and allow residents an opportunity to ask questions on a one-to-one basis with officials. An estimated 200 people were in attendance, including Governor Mark Gordon, Platte County Emergency Management Coordinator Anthony Krotz, Finnicum, firefighting incident commanders and other decision-making personnel.

A Sunday afternoon report stated the fire was 40 percent contained and had 160 personnel working mop up, patrols, hot spot and increasing containment activities. It was 28,984 acres in size, according to inciweb.wildfire.gov, the official source of information Finnicum is releasing to the public. The site has updated information as it becomes available.

Monday morning, the fire was reported to be 60 percent contained and still encompassing the same acreage as reported on Sunday. Specialized infrared flights conducted over the area have been giving incident command information about the hot spots in order to continue to increase containment percentages.

On the ground in Guernsey

Shawna Reichert, Guernsey resident (and Platte County Chamber CEO, and PCSD No. 2 School Board member) was one of the volunteers who helped get word out about the need for supplies and was also on the food-preparation crew set up at Crazy Tony’s and the school in Guernsey.

“There were at least 50 different volunteers on the line putting sandwiches and burritos together in the three days we were able to do so,” Shawna said.

The crew put together 200 meals, three times a day for fire personnel, evacuees and displaced citizens. A multitude of businesses and individuals throughout Guernsey, Wheatland and surrounding communities donated, volunteered, or offered support to their neighbors. “We came together and let bygones be bygones. We were just there to help each other. It was magical to watch how everybody was doing what needed to be done to help,” Shawna observed.

By Friday morning, control of the food supply for fire personnel was under state and federal purview; and Twisters, being familiar with regulations after having worked with a federal contract previously, was contracted to supply the sandwiches according to the federal standards. Subsequently, an announcement was made to the volunteers: they did not need to make any more meals.

The announcement was also made at that time, there was no need for any more donations.

Earlier in the week, when residents were cleared to emergency evacuate animals in the Pleasant Valley Area at around 7:30 p.m., Shawna found herself on the ground – literally – when she could see flames were peaking over the hill directly to the east of her just after the Hartville evacuation notice. Through the smoke-haze, she and her husband, Troy, and friend Vicki Hood were relocating their horses in danger at the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Highway 270. They were not able to take all the horses in one trip with the trailer they had, so Shawna stayed with the two horses to be loaded in a second trip.

“It was terrifying when I saw those flames on the mountain just across the road,” Shawna said. She described how she was standing there in the dark, holding the leads for two nervous horses with no vehicle, wondering if she should try to head up 270 to Hartville or back down Pleasant Valley Road where the fire had burned earlier in the day if it got much closer.

“It was so dark, and I was also thinking about the reports I’d heard that the firefighters were also fighting rattlesnakes while they were trying to put out the fire, so every time I took a step while trying to keep the leads from tangling, I didn’t know if it was a snake or the rope - I was so scared,” she recalled.

Fortunately, it didn’t take too long for the horse trailer to come back for her and the last two horses, and they were able to evacuate the area without incident.

Concerning her boots-on-the-ground viewpoint of the support response of the community, Shawna said, “We’re one big family in Platte County. It made me so proud to be from here because we have also needed Wheatland, Glendo – everybody – to come together to help…I always say we are five towns, one community. I saw that firsthand.”

Silvia Aguirre, Red Cross of Wyoming disaster program manager, agrees. Aguirre said in a Friday interview, she is amazed at the way the community stepped up to provide food and other necessities for people displaced because of the fire.

“Your community was phenomenal in their response to the emergency. I also appreciate Camp Guernsey for stepping up to provide excellent accommodations for the shelter – including pets…and to local businesses who donated bedding to the shelter.”

“One good thing about Wyoming: we are resilient and a great source of help to each other in times of need,” Aguirre concluded.

A news release on Aug.1 by Camp Guernsey quoted Camp Guernsey Garrison Commander Col. Scott Morey as saying, “Camp Guernsey has stepped up to support the efforts by providing red card certified firefighters and offering shelter for displaced citizens. Four individuals have taken refuge at the camp, where we are prepared to meet any needs such as lodging, food, and water.”

The news release further stated, “Camp Guernsey is hosting the Red Cross to further aid in relief efforts. The collaboration between these agencies highlights the importance and benefits of partnerships during emergencies. By working together, we can pool resources, expertise, and manpower to better protect our communities and environment.”

Some Facebook posts to the public from local agencies stated:

 “…The donations and assistance received have been overwhelming and amazing.” (Platte County Emergency Management).

“Thank you to everyone who is showing support for our firefighters – this has been one difficult response. Thanks to all the local utility companies for their quick responses as well.” (Goshen County Emergency Management).

Fire departments from western Nebraska assisted Goshen and Platte County crews to fight the blaze, in addition to multiple wildland firefighting crews from Albany and Laramie Counties, and the 220th Military Police from Colorado, all in coordination with Wyoming State Forestry and BLM.

“No single agency can manage fires like this without the engagement and support of our cooperating agencies,” said Incident Commander Travis Pardue with Wyoming State Forestry Division in a Friday press release from the Wyoming Type III team. “The fire proved challenging from day one with persistent winds, high temperatures and low humidity, requiring an all-hands response.”

Finnicum’s report said a full-suppression strategy using direct and indirect tactics to control the fire is being implemented for the Pleasant Valley Fire, which has encompassed private, state, and federal lands. Aerial support and suppression efforts have also been utilized from the beginning of response efforts. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.