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Residents, fire department respond to Rozet fire

Seven Campbell County Fire Department firefighters and one chief responded today to a burn pit fire that went out of control at a Rozet mobile home park, a chief said.

Campbell County Fire Department responds to a fire May 19 in Rozet. (Mary Stroka/County 17)

GILLETTE, Wyo. — Seven Campbell County Fire Department firefighters and one chief responded today to a burn pit fire that went out of control at a Rozet mobile home park, a chief said.

The call came in at about 11:20 a.m., Deputy Chief J.R. Fox said. He estimated that about 1 to 1.5 acres were impacted by the fire. Dry grass from last season got involved in the blaze, which didn’t help.

Tom Humpal, the owner of the roughly 8.3-acre mobile home park on Jack Smith Road south of Highway 51, said that he had planned the controlled burn for the 8-foot pit and informed dispatch prior to the burn.

“I think I followed all the rules,” he said. “Things happen.”

Winds were blowing about about 5–6 mph when the fire started, but rose to maybe 15–20 mph, Humpal said.

Humpal said he’s glad the department and a few locals came to help. He and the neighbor were working to put out the fire with shovels and realized they weren’t going to be able to extinguish the fire.

“We were beating it down, and the wind took it,” he said.

Humpal said his daughter, who used to work for Campbell County Fire Department, graduated May 13 from nursing school in Rapid City.

The fire department also responded May 19 to a structure fire on Midland Road in Gillette. Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Gary Sams said at about 12:45 p.m. on scene that the incident involves crime scene investigation and multiple agencies, and officials aren’t yet ready to release information.

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