Provided by Lincoln County Emergency Management

Wildfire Potential

Lincoln County Emergency Management is preparing for a high-potential wildfire season as drought conditions persist and long-term forecasts favoring higher-than average temperatures through the summer. This, coupled with expected fireworks and public events related the America 250 celebrations on July 4th, brings increased potential for fires to start.

While fire bans are NOT currently in effect, we encourage everyone to take extra precautions. The public is asked to remain vigilant to changing conditions in your area as you consider controlled burns or other activities that can create an ignition source. If you are planning a controlled burn, please notify Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office dispatch. Ensure that you have means to keep the fire under control. Once a fire is uncontrolled, there is significant potential for rapid fire spread in many areas.

Evacuations and Sheltering

This past week has seen multiple fire-related evacuations in surrounding states. All residents and business owners should have a plan for such events. Have copies of important documents available along with a kit of basic supplies that you can take with you to a shelter or other planned location. Pets and Livestock should be part of your plans as well.

LCEMA is partnered with the American Red Cross – Northern Utah Chapter to provide shelter management services during residential evacuations. This partnership isn’t new, however. Lincoln County had been working with Red Cross of Wyoming for several years. More recently, southwestern Wyoming was reassigned to the Northern Utah Chapter to help decrease response times, and to mitigate long-distance travel for deployed Red Cross volunteers.

Red Cross will deploy to manage open shelters in the event of a wildfire or other emergencies that lead to evacuation. They also provide aid to families who have been displaced due to home fires. This is one area where local volunteers can make significant impacts by joining and participating with Red Cross.

Stay Informed

It is important to have timely information before, during, and after an emergency. Lincoln County Emergency Management uses CodeRED for emergency communications to the public during emergency events. CodeRED allows Emergency Management officials to send timely alerts to phones (voice call), text, email, social media, and the CodeRED phone app simultaneously. This only works if you have signed up, however. We encourage you to visit the Lincoln County Government website at www.lincolncountywy.gov and click the Emergency Notifications link to sign up.

Receive official updates:

•Sign up for Emergency Alerts: https://accountportal.onsolve.net/lincolncountywy

•Lincoln County Emergency Management on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountyOHS