After weeks of intense heat and dry conditions, lightning strikes in Northern Wyoming and Southern Montana led to multiple fires starting. As the wind picked up, fires grew and combined as landowners and local firefighting crews were quickly overwhelmed by the blaze.
The Remington Fire started in Northern Wyoming and then burned north into Montana. The fire has now grown to more than 184,000 acres. Not far away, the House Draw Fire in Johnson and Campbell Counties in Wyoming has burned 174,000 acres. Combined with other fires in the region, over 430,000 acres have burned in a short amount of time.
The number of livestock lost to the fire won’t be known for some time, but there’s concern that losses will be heavy. For the animals that do survive the blaze, ranchers will be faced with the daunting task of finding feed for the fall and winter after so much hay and forage was lost.
These trying times are when our local communities shine. With so many in need, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are deploying relief efforts even as the fire continues to burn. The recovery will take time, so we will continue to update this page with the needs of those affected, planned relief efforts, donations and other ways to assist. So please check back often.
For anyone who has additional information or assistance please email us at newsdesk@northernbroadcasting.com or call 406-252-6661, so we can add the information to this page.
Wyoming
– For Producers with Displaced Livestock:
Buffalo Livestock Marketing has opened up the yards for ranchers to bring livestock with feed and water available. Buffalo Livestock also has cattle pots and pick-ups and trailers lined up if anyone needs help moving livestock. They have also helped to locate hay for producers in need.
Contact:
Austin Snook – 307-290-2161, Taylor Snook – 307-290-2273, Kyle Kallhoff – 605-881-1526
–Transportation
MG Trucking LLC in Casper has also offered to donate it’s time and services to move hay and supplies for affected ranchers.
(307) 797 – 4074
– Fencing Supplies
Northeast Wyoming and Southern Montana Wildfire Fencing Relief
Bighorn Equestrian Center, MTR Ranch Supply and others have set up a relief fund to aid ranchers with fencing costs. Money donated to the relief fund will be used to purchase fencing supplies as well as other items and will be distributed to ranchers affected by the fires.
Checks can be made out to the Bighorn Equestrian Center (BHEC) and mailed to:
Wildfire Fencing Relief
PO Box 427
Buffalo, WY 82834
Cammack Ranch Supply – Union, SD
Cammack Ranch Supply in Union, SD is accepting donations of items or money and they will purchase products to donate to the affected producers. Jeff and Shelane Graham have generously offered to delivery the supplies free of chage.
If interested in donating call Cammack Ranch Supply at 800-828-2829 or 605-985-5591 of message them on Facebook.
– Fundraising Efforts:
St. Onge Livestock
St. Onge Livestock will host a roll over auction for the fire relief efforts on Friday, September 6th at Noon.
Buffalo Livestock
Buffalo Livestock hosted a roll over auction during their weekly sale, raising over $41,000 that was donated to the Northeast Wyoming and Southern Montana Wildfire Fencing Relief effort. Stay tuned to the Facebook Page for more details.
Wyoming Rancher Fire Relief
Kiley Scott-Kocher and Alicia Werner started the Wyoming Rancher Fire Relief Facebook Page and have already begun organizing fundraising. They will be accepting supplies that can be used by those affected, as well as monetary donations, and they are currently working on an auction to raise funds.
For anyone wishing to make a donation, here is the link to a Google Form for donors to fill out. Items will be distributed directly to the ranchers and individuals in need.
For those who would like to donate monetarily, checks can be made to Cowboy Media LLC with “Fire Relief” in the memo and sent to Cowboy Media LLC, Attn: Wyoming Rancher Fire Relief, PO Box 360, Edgerton, WY, 82635. Monetary donations can also be sent to @thewrangler307 on Venmo with “Fire donation” in the description.
Campbell County Cattlewomen/Campbell County Farm Bureau
Campbell County Cattlewomen and Campbell County Farm Bureau have teamed up to take donations for a Wildfire Relief Fund to be distributed to ranchers impacted in Campbell County. Tax deductible donations can be sent to: Campbell County Cattlewomen, 8466 N. US Hwy 14-16, Gillette, WY 82716 Please write Wildfire Relief Fund in the memo line.
Wyoming Stock Growers Association
The Wyoming Stock Growers Endowment Trust announced the establishment of a Wildlife Relief Fund to assist Wyoming livestock producers who have been impacted by major fires in 2024.
The Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity established by Wyoming Stock Growers. In addition to funding provided by the Trust, the Trust is seeking donations from businesses and individuals interested in assisting producers impacted by the fires. All donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made with a credit card over the phone or online, via direct wire transfer or checks can be made payable to WSGA Endowment Trust and mailed to PO Box 206 Cheyenne, WY 82003.
WSGA Endowment Trust will begin accepting applications for cash assistance on Sept. 15.
For more information about WSGET visit wysga.org or call 307-638-3942
Specific items/resources needed
Ranchers have identified a pressing need for specific supplies, including fencing, portable corrals, air compressors, chainsaws, cattle dart guns, and bloat blocks. In addition to these items, they are also in need of labor for tasks such as building fences, feeding cows, moving cattle, and running various equipment.
Many ranchers along the Montana-Wyoming border are in urgent need of fencing. If you can help build fence in that area or would like to donate supplies, please contact Anthony Delaney at 307-620-9274.
Montana
If you want to donate labor, supplies, or hay to ranchers impacted by the Remington Fire visit the Montana Stockgrowers Association Fire Relief and Recover Hub at https://mtbeef.org/wildfire-relief.
The webpage brings together forms, fact sheets, and contact information for programs relevant to producers from county, state, and federal entities.
Ranchers are asked to report losses to Rosebud county DES Director Keith Raymond at kraymond@rosebudcountymt.com or by calling DES office at 406-346-7968.
– Remington Fire Volunteer Weekend
On September 7th and 8th the OW ranch in Decker is hosting a volunteer effort to build fence for ranchers in southeastern Montana affected by the Remington fire. Search for Remington Fire Volunteer Weekend on Facebook to get more information.
– Fundraising Efforts:
Rosebud County Cattlewomen
The Rosebud County Cattlewomen in collaboration with The Community Foundation and Rosebud County DES will be handling all monetary donations for relief efforts in Rosebud, Big Horn and Powder River County. This is the only official organization working directly with all 3 counties.
Applications to receive funds will be available in the next couple of days through the Rosebud Cattlewomen’s Facebook or by mail.
Updates with locations for hay and fencing will be released in the coming days. PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF PHYSICAL ITEMS (WATER, FOOD, CLOTHING ETC. as they have more than they can handle at this time.
Checks can be sent to First State Bank or The Rosebud County Cattlewomen Association at the below addresses. You can donate online by following this link https://www.paypal.com/donate/…
First State Bank
PO Box 379
Forsyth, MT 59327
Rosebud County Cattlewomen Association
PO Box 965
Forsyth, MT 59327
Montana Stockgrowers Foundation
The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is now accepting donations for its Wildfire Relief Fund which benefits Montana livestock producers affected by fires.
In addition to financial support, which is the most immediate need, the Wildfire Relief Fund page also offers a form that can be filled out for in-kind donations like hay, feed, pasture, fencing supplies, etc. In-kind donation submissions will be forwarded to local coordinators to facilitate deliveries.
The Rosebud County DES is asking that that if you need hay or fencing materials, or if you have hay, fencing materials or other supplies to donate, please work through the MSF. At MTBeefFoundation.org, you will find forms and phone numbers to get started. MSF is coordinating the pick up and drop off all these items.
You can also use these links to donate hay or supplies:
Find more information on the MSF Wildfire Relief Fund here.
Opportunity Bank in Ashland
An Account has been set up to benefit affected ranchers in Southeastern Montana at Opportunity bank in Ashland.
Opportunity Bank,
PO Box 368
Ashland MT 59003
Stockman Bank
Stockman Bank has set up a fire relief fund with a $10,000 matching grant to assist those affected by the massive Remington fire, which started in Wyoming last week and has now crossed the state line into southeastern Montana. The Remington Fire Relief Fund will be used to provide needed assistance to those impacted by the fire in Rosebud, Powder River and Big Horn counties. Donations to this account will be administered and distributed by Rosebud County Cattle Women in conjunction with the Rosebud County Foundation.
How to Donate
To donate to the fire relief fund, please stop by any Stockman Bank location or mail to Stockman Bank, c/o The Remington Fire Relief Fund, PO Box 250, Miles City, MT, 59301-0250. Stockman will match all contributions made to the fund up to a total of $10,000 through December 31, 2024. Please join us in helping our neighbors in southeastern Montana.
Producer Partnership
The Producer Partnership is offering to pick up animals from ranchers that have been injured from the effects of the fire. The animals must be able to walk into the trailer to transport them to travel to the processing facility. Producer Partnership will accept sheep, pigs cows and goats and even bison. They will expedite the processing so the protein can get into the community and benefit those who are in need.
Producer Partnership is a federally inspected, nonprofit processing facility in Montana. They take in cull animals, process the animals at no charge, and the donor receives a tax contribution letter stating the amount of protein processed from their contribution.
Reach out to Matt Pierson 406-220-7223 and he will handle the delivery and coordination of the animal transport and processing.
Government Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers multiple programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program for producers who experience livestock death in excess of normal mortality; the Emergency Assistance of Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program which provides eligible producers with compensation for feed and grazing losses, transportation of feed to livestock and hauling livestock and the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program which provides low-interest financing for producers to build, repair, replace or upgrade facilities to store commodities, as well as a variety of farm and emergency loans.
Photos: Broadus Volunteer Fire Department/Matt Delaney
A disaster of this magnitude can leave you in shock, wondering which way to turn first. And the pure heartbreak of seeing so much your property and infrastructure destroyed, is mind-numbing. Not to mention the awful pain of having to shoot your own animals to stop their suffering.
A couple of thoughts:
1. Do the first things first. Get feed and water to your animals. They will be scattered and mixed up, but we can sort them out later. First, keep them alive, and off the highway.
2. Accept help. People will try to bring you things you don’t need. Find a way to stack it somewhere, for others who may need it. Be grateful…and tactfully suggest what you actually do need.
3. Help is on the way. Some won’t arrive for a while, but there will be money, and hay, and fencing supplies coming. Unfortunately, we have some folks right here in our area that have gotten very good at dealing with disasters like this, and they know how to get the donations to the ones who need them most. Make sure you are on the list.
4. Learn the Programs. Many different agencies and groups have help available, but each one has their own restrictions and hoops to jump through. In the end, some things just won’t be covered by any of them. But there will be fundraisers and donations that can help with those.
5. Document everything. Right now. Write down how many hours you ran your dozer for the neighbors. How many cattle and animals you lost, and other items that were destroyed. Note any unusual expenses incurred as a result of this disaster.
6. Don’t get Scammed. The biggest need is cash. But be sure to donate to reputable organizations, that you know will get the money to the problem, and not skim off a big fee for their services.
Watch what happens next. The next few weeks might make you very proud to be from here…where the word “neighbor” is a verb. It’s what we do, and how we live.
We have pretty much lost our entire ranch’s fences. We are just so overwhelmed by what we are facing, and navigating the resources and relief efforts seems challenging.
I think our biggest need, and seemingly insurmountable hurdle, is going to be labor.
Even if we can get the materials and resources to pay people…who is going to come to this remote area? Our neighbors are in the same place we are.
We will have our family, and relatives (who are good fencers), but they are not here all the time.
We’ve got some friends who have offered to help, but that is not going to get it all done by the time the grass grows back.
Labor is going to be our biggest need.