A wildfire burning in timber and difficult terrain has grown to 4,869 acres as of Friday early afternoon because of windy and dry conditions in the Laramie Range about 17 miles southwest of Wheatland.
The lightning-caused Moonshine Fire began on Monday in Albany County and has since expanded into Platte County. A Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team arrived Wednesday to take command of coordinating 254 personnel working the fire. By Thursday morning, it grew to about 3,500 acres.
According to Moonshine Fire Information at facebook.com/2026MoonshineFire, the Albany County Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation order at about 1 p.m. Friday set for “Go” for those in the Bookout Ranch area to leave immediately as the fire was backing to the north with growth expected on the northeast flank. The fire was not expanding to the south at that time and all other fire zones were set at “Ready” to be prepared.
Multiple resources from Albany County Volunteer Fire Department (ACVFD) Sybille Fire Zone, Albany County, Platte County, Bureau of Land Management — Wyoming, U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming State Forestry engaged in the initial response.
Aerial resources also began supporting ground crews Wednesday, dropping water and retardant along the fire’s perimeter. This response helped slow progression, allowing firefighters to assess conditions and develop rapid containment strategies.
Although the fire is still at 0% containment, according to an 11 a.m. Friday news release from the Wyoming Type 3 team, its primary objectives remained for firefighter and public safety, protecting and preserving structures and ranching land, and limiting fire spread and progression.
On Thursday, fire officials confirmed two minor structures were lost in the initial push of the fire. Red flag conditions the last two days and remaining heat in the area limited access to assess damage. Successful direct extinguishment and indirect confinement strategies allowed officials adequate time to verify impacts from the fire’s initial progression.
An operational update in the Friday morning release also included:
On the south end of the fire, from Government Peak southward toward Slate Creek Road, crews continued building fireline, strengthening containment, and assessing contingency plans. Within Moonshine Gulch, crews identified terrain features near the Laramie River that may provide additional opportunities to strengthen control lines on the fire’s western edge.
On the north end of the fire, Thursday’s gusty winds and dry conditions increased fire activity. While prior control lines held, fire activity flanked westward, moving northwest along Reed Creek. Firefighters used extensive aerial support throughout the day — including helicopters, large air tankers and scoopers — to slow fire spread and limit northward progression.
Friday morning, the night shift verified control lines held overnight. Crews were focused on protecting structures in proximity of the current fire footprint, reinforcing control lines and strengthening contingency resources. Patrolling containment lines around the southeastern perimeter will continue as conditions and terrain allow.
There is also a temporary flight restriction in place and the public is asked to avoid using drones in the area.
Other helpful online links are: fire information, inciweb; conditions, wyoroad.info; weather, National Weather Service — Cheyenne, weather.gov/cys; U.S. Forest Service closures and information, fs.usda.gov/r02/mbrtb; and air quality and smoke map, fire.airnow.gov; temporary flight restriction, tfr.faa.gov.