For Immediate Release
Johnson County Fire Relief | October 2, 2024
Contact: Ashlea Bassett 
abassett@johnsoncowy.gov 
307.620.5830

From the Ashes to the Table; Rebuilding Our Community Together 

Johnson County Fire Relief Fund to Host Community Dinner 

Buffalo, WY – The people of Johnson County, Wyoming, will gather on Main Street in Buffalo on the evening of Saturday, October 19, 2024, for the Ashes to the Table Community Dinner and Dance. 

Hosted by the Johnson County Fire Relief Fund, the event will honor and celebrate the resilience of Johnson County and its population following the devastating House Draw Fire, which swept Johnson County in late August. The lightning-sparked wildfire burned over 151,000 acres or almost 240 square miles of grassland in less than 48 hours. 

For the event, Main Street will be closed to through traffic as dinner tables are stretched down the middle of the street. Beginning at 6 pm, the barbecue meal will feature food provided by community donors and hamburgers cooked by the local Kiwanis and Buffalo FFA. The street dance, featuring Kellen Smith and the Nate Champion Band will begin at 8 pm. According to Ashes to the Table organizer Ashlea Bassett, “This is a community event in all ways possible. We live in a community where when someone needs help, everyone comes running. We’re all in this together, and what better way to learn each other's needs than at the dinner table.” 

Rather than ticketing the event, the Johnson County Fire Relief Fund will accept open donations from Ashes to the Table attendees. These donations go directly to Johnson County ranchers in need on an as-needed basis, as determined by a board of local community members, leaders, and officials. This funds distribution group works closely with a Producer Advocacy Committee that acts as a “voice” for affected ranchers, taking into account the nuances of the various operations and families affected. To learn more about the Ashes to the Table Community Dinner and Dance or to donate directly to the Johnson County Fire Relief Fund, visit www.johnsoncountyfirerelieffund.com. 

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