A large wildfire west of Wheatland has burned over 5600 acres.

The lightening sparked fire is believed to have started Saturday evening with first reports coming in at around 8:20 Sunday morning.

Jane Carlson, for Platte County Emergency Management, says the Type III Squaw Mountain fire and is burning in the Cooney Hills area. She says earlier this morning they were considering a possible evacuation of nearby ranches but that's changed.

"They think that they've got some good lines drawn, so we probably won't have to, but we do have the shelters the state has set up with us if we do need to evacuate, and the livestock board, etc, they're all working with us."

The fire has destroyed one cabin.  State forestry is managing the operation. Carlson wasn't sure at this point how many fire fighters are on scene, but units from surrounding counties have responded and they're being aided by heavy air tankers and smaller air craft.

"They're going to try to keep the fire north of Tunnel Road, south and east of Slate Creek, west of Cooney Hills, that's northwest of Highway 34.  80% to 85%,  I believe,  is  on private property."

Last night, she says, the fire was visible from Interstate 25.

As of noon Monday, she says, there is zero containment.

here's a link to some great photos of the fire from Maryse Good Smet

 

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