A large wildfire outside Casper, Wyoming, has forced the evacuation of more than 500 homes, Bill Crapser with the Wyoming State Forestry Division said Monday.
The Station Fire grew to 9,000 acres on Monday, he said. On Sunday, the fire covered about 7,000 acres and destroyed about 15 homes, he said.
He said 536 homes, the residences for about 1,350 people, were evacuated.
Crapser said the fire started Saturday at a local landfill. Unusually high temperatures coupled with strong winds in the region for this time of year may have ignited the fire, he said.
About 120 people and 50 fire engines are fighting the blaze, he said. Numerous fire departments from around the state are helping.