BAR NUNN, Wyoming – The Bar Nunn Fire Department announced Thursday it is sending its Tender 11-2 truck, along with Captain Matt Potter and Firefighter Eric Crim, to assist in extinguishing efforts on the House Draw Fire in Johnson County. According to the EPA’s Air Now program, the fire has grown to 1,000 acres in just 21 hours.

Potter and Crim are joining other agencies, including Johnson County Fire, The Powder River Fire Department, BLM Fire and others, to extinguish the flames. Air support is also being provided in the form of single-engine firefighting aircraft and a large firefighting aircraft, according to Wyoming BLM.

According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, evacuation orders for area residents have not been lifted as of Thursday, August 22, and the order to avoid I-90 between Buffalo and Gillette remains in effect.

However, WyDOT reported at 11:05 a.m. Thursday that the road was expected to reopen between 9 and 11 p.m. This estimate does not apply to evacuation orders.

With an estimated total size of 4,000 acres, the House Draw Fire is not yet contained and is considered dangerous. Johnson County Emergency Management said in a Facebook post Wednesday that no volunteers are needed and the area should be avoided.

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