Hundreds evacuated; 6 square miles charred at Guernsey State Park

A look at the Guernsey fire taken Sunday morning (Courtesy of Renee Begger).

A look at the Guernsey fire taken Saturday afternoon. (Courtesy of The Wyoming State Forestry Division)

A growing wildfire in Guernsey State Park has blackened six square miles, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of campers and visitors.

Gary Schoene, a spokesman for the Wyoming State Parks, told the Associated Press, between 500 and 1,000 people were evacuated from the park when the blaze broke out about 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Officials Sunday morning said the blaze had consumed over 3,700 acres, and no containment was noted.

The Glenrock Bird reported that police escorted evacuees into the park Sunday morning to retrieve their belongings and recreational vehicles.

The park is closed until further notice, and Schoene said that resources are thin, because of other fires in Wyoming and Colorado.

Officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation. Air and ground support are on the scene. There are no reports of injuries or fatalities.

Structures, campgrounds, recreational vehicles and power lines are being threatened by the fire, but no structures have been confirmed destroyed at this time.

A shelter has been set up at the Wheatland 4-H Building.

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