Officials evacuate north Laramie neighborhood following discovery of “firework making materials”
The evacuation order remains partially in effect, with some local residents allowed to return and others being asked to “remain evacuated.”
Emergency management and law enforcement officials evacuated the Prairies Edge Home Park Wednesday afternoon after locating “firework making materials” in the north Laramie subdivision.
At press time, the evacuation area was being reduced from 300 meters surrounding space 86 to a more limited set of homes.
“Emergency responders are working to remove the materials to a safe location,” states a post from the Laramie Police Department. “Residents at 530 Beaufort Spaces 33-35 and 83-95 must REMAIN EVACUATED. All other residents may return home. Please continue to avoid the evacuation area to allow responders to work.”
Shortly before 3 p.m., Albany County Emergency Management posted the first evacuation notice, clearing personnel and civilians “due to the presence of potential explosives in the area.” Residents were asked to “proceed calmly and quickly” to the designated evacuation point, the nearby Eppson Center for Seniors.
“Do not attempt to return to your home or retrieve belongings,” that first notice stated. “Estimated time of re-entry is 10 hours. Law enforcement and Fire Department are on scene to assist. Your safety is our highest priority.”
Though the initial map showing the evacuation area covers parts of Highway 287, the road was not closed.
Though possibly unrelated to the events unfolding in Laramie, Gov. Mark Gordon reminded residents this afternoon to take care with fireworks and fires over the coming Independence Day weekend. That includes drowning fires, only using fireworks in approved areas, and addressing loose chains.
The governor’s press release points to wildfires already breaking out across the state:
On July 1, Wyoming saw a flurry of wildfire starts, with fires reported in four counties and on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Three fire starts were in Hot Springs County and six were reported in Johnson County. Notably, the 2024 fire season was Wyoming’s second-worst on record, with more than 810,000 acres burned around the state. Nationwide, 90% of wildfires are caused by humans.
“No one wants to see a repeat of last summer, but we cannot ignore the fact that we are already seeing an uptick in fire activity across the state,” Gordon says in the news release. “Wyoming’s fuels are drying out and fire risk has increased. As you celebrate this Fourth of July weekend, please do so responsibly. Carelessness with fireworks, with campfires and with open flames can quickly turn disastrous.”
Albany County Emergency Management did not respond immediately to a request for comment.