A massive smoke plume billows from the Casper Mountain fire.
Photo by 2nd Lt. Richard Dension, Wyoming Wing
2nd Lt. Richard Denison
Public Affairs Officer
492nd Emergency Services Composite Squadron
Wyoming Wing
WYOMING – Capt. Jennifer Melvin of the 492nd Emergency Services Composite Squadron was the first person to call 911 to report a fire Sunday on Casper Mountain, one of the heaviest populated mountains in Wyoming.
While others at the scene took pictures, Melvin’s first concerns were that emergency personnel be made aware of the fire.
When she spotted the flames, she said afterward, she was frustrated to realize that they appeared to have been burning for about 30 minutes, and fire crews might have been able to get a better defense set up had they been notified earlier.
The fire has since grown to more than 15,000 acres, or about 24 square miles, prompted the evacuation of 150 people. Another 750 have been warned that they could be evacuated as well.
