Two small firefighting turboprop planes touched down at Cheyenne Regional Airport on Wednesday afternoon to refuel and continue battling the Moonshine Fire, which has already burned roughly 1,300 acres near Wheatland, Wyoming.
Fire Details and Location
The fire ignited on September 7, 2026, about two miles northeast of Government Peak Road at Tunnel Road, straddling Platte and Albany counties. It is now primarily burning in Albany County, west of Wheatland, within the area designated as the Sybille Fire Zone.
Strong winds and dry conditions have driven rapid growth since the fire was first reported Monday evening. As of the latest update, containment remains at zero percent.
Resources on the Ground
Multiple agencies are actively engaged, including the Albany County Fire Department, Platte County responders, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service, and the Wyoming State Forestry Division. A Type 4 Incident Management Team, led by a Type 4 Incident Commander, has deployed 122 personnel to the scene.
Dauntless Air, a firefighting outfit based in New Mexico, supplied the two aircraft now refueling in Cheyenne. These planes, which resemble crop‑dusters, are equipped with floats and belly tanks that can hold water or fire retardant. Though they look modest, they run on jet fuel and use a turboprop engine—essentially a jet engine that turns a propeller.
Cheyenne and Casper Airport Support
Cheyenne’s airport provided a temporary refueling station, allowing the planes to quickly return to the fire line. Meanwhile, the Casper/Natrona County International Airport has recently completed a permanent base for BLM Single‑Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) and Large Air Tankers (LAT). The new facility, built in partnership with the Wyoming State Forestry Division and the U.S. Forest Service, can load two aircraft simultaneously and deliver up to 90,000 gallons of mixed retardant per day—significantly higher than the previous 15,000‑gallon capacity.
The Casper base is the only joint BLM and U.S. Forest Service construction of its kind in the nation. It also plans a future heli‑base adjacent to the SEAT/LAT facility to further enhance the state’s firefighting capabilities.
Public Guidance
Residents planning outdoor activities, including camping or any open‑burning, should check with their county for current fire restrictions. Most camping areas across Wyoming remain under fire‑restriction orders until the situation improves.
For real‑time updates, a dedicated Facebook page has been created to share the latest fire maps, containment efforts, and safety notices.
Looking Ahead
Additional aircraft, hand crews, and resources are expected to be ordered as the incident progresses. The Sybille Fire Zone continues to monitor conditions closely, emphasizing that wind and dryness could cause rapid changes in fire behavior.
Community members are encouraged to stay informed, respect fire‑restriction guidelines, and support the brave firefighters and pilots working tirelessly to protect Wyoming’s lands and families.
Original reporting: K2 Radio (Casper) — read the source article.
