Wildfires destroy dozens of buildings, force hundreds of evacuations in Wyoming, Idaho
Ferocious blazes, fueled by unseasonably warm temperatures and driven by strong winds, have destroyed dozens of homes and outbuilding in the US states of Wyoming and Idaho, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes.
Drought, unusually warm temperatures and strong winds continue to prolong the fire season in the US West.
One of the blazes that started near Wyoming’s second largest city of Casper Saturday night had consumed a bout 10,000 acres of grassland and buildings by late Monday, said a report.
At least 12 families have lost their homes, and hundreds of others have been forced to abandon their properties due to the Cole Creek Fire that started at a landfill in Evansville on Saturday.
Walker Fire burning near Idaho City
In Idaho, the Walker Fire had burned an estimated 3,400 acres, destroying several structures and forcing up to a hundreds people from their homes, according to local reports.
“The northwest flank of the fire saw the most significant growth today, growing toward Rattlesnake Creek and into Wild Horse Creek. It burned further into heavy timber, causing columns of smoke visible from miles away,” said Idaho Fire Info.
U.S. Wildfires: Year-to-date statistics
- Dates: 2015 (1/1/15 – 10/8/15)
- No. of Fires: 51,110
- Acres Burned: 11,245,536
Annual Average prior 10 years (2005-2014)
- No. of Fires: 60,506
- Acres Burned: 6,371,381
Fire Earth 