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Fire destroys cabin, shed at Bobcat Ranch

By Amber Peabody

This document was published online on Monday, July 14, 2008

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A firefighter walks behind the remains of two cabins after a fire started at the Simpson family’s Bobcat Ranch about 32 miles south of Cody and burned several hundred acres of river bottom and cottonwood trees Sunday. (Photo by Ken Blackbird)

A wildfire that started on the Bobcat Ranch on the upper South Fork on Sunday was about 25 percent contained Monday.

“It's burning cottonwoods and downed and dried trees,” fire administrator Russ Wenke said. “We hope to have it under control by the end of Tuesday.”

Fire crews from Cody, Powell, the BLM and Forest Service have been working since Sunday afternoon to contain the fire on both sides of Ishawooa Creek between the Bobcat and TE ranches. As of Monday morning 53 acres had burned and two buildings were destroyed, fire administrator Russ Wenke said.

Cody firefighters responded to an original call of a smoke detector alarm in one of the cabins at the Bobcat Ranch about 2 p.m. Sunday. By the time they reached the site the cabin was destroyed and a storage shed was engulfed in flames, Wenke said.

“We've been told the wood pile outside the cabin was on fire,” he said. “When we got there the cabin was mostly gone so we don't think it started inside but we are still investigating.”

Two other cabins also were on fire as well as five acres along the river. The storage shed also was a loss but the other cabins only sustained minimal damage.

The Bobcat Ranch is owned by the Simpson family. The Duncan family of Houston owns the TE, which was originally owned by Buffalo Bill Cody.

By Sunday night the crews had stopped the fire spread and continued to monitor it.

Two Cody engines were on site as well as a 20-person hand crew from the Wyoming State Forestry Division. Another 20-person crew from the Forestry Division was expected Monday afternoon.

No structures were in immediate danger but Wenke said several structures are at risk along the river.

“There were slight gusts Sunday but not too strong and the same is expected Monday,” Wenke said. “The wind is supposed to pick up significantly Tuesday, which is why we're trying to get this taken care of. We've been fairly lucky with the wind so far.”

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