Fire contained at Indiana state park

SPENCER, Ind. (WISH) - A wildfire was burning at McCormick's Creek State Park Friday afternoon, Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials said.

Officials said about 27 acres were consumed by fire in the park, up from an initial report of five acres burning. Officials said they had the fire contained, but not out, as of about 4:30 p.m.

By 5:30 p.m., it appeared that a few smoldering spots were all that remained, but DNR officials said that it was still not considered completely out, as firefighters continued to extinguish hot spots and to be watchful for any new flare-ups.

Several fire crews arrived quickly after the fire was reported, Mike Swafford with DNR said.

The park is just east of Spencer along Ind. 46. The cause of the fire was unkown Friday evening.

But as an illustration of how quickly a fire can start from a wayward spark, 24-Hour News 8 reporter Jay Hermacinski said officials told him on an average day, the probability of a fire being started from a burning cigarette being thrown into a grassy area is about 50 percent. Now, the likelihood of a fire starting is at 90 percent.