Wyoming officials, religious group agree on deal for sweat lodge fires

CASPER, Wyo. — A fire ban in Natrona County will not stop a weekly Native American spiritual ceremony.

Participants in the ceremony and county officials worked out a solution that allows fire to be a part of the services by stationing a county-owned fire truck beside the sweat lodge where the ceremony is held each Sunday.

The sweat lodge is located at Steve Weber's home near Edness K. Wilkins State Park east of Casper.

Firefighters responded to a report of smoke at Weber's property recently and found a group participating in the American Indian spiritual ceremony.

Weber says fire is a necessary part of the religious ceremony and he's thankful that a quick solution was found.