Casper, Wyoming, population about 59,000, has only one place that offers abortions – a hospital in Jackson, Wyoming, almost 300 miles away.
A second women’s health care facility was planning to open next month on East Second Street. The clinic would give local women access to abortions and other health care services.
Currently, women in Wyoming can obtain an abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy.
Abortion opponents had recently been holding protests against the opening of the clinic, which was under construction. Opposition to abortion in conservative Wyoming is widespread, and a “trigger law” in the state will immediately make abortion illegal if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
The new clinic’s director, Julie Burkhart, said that clinic personnel have been harassed with threatening telephone messages and emails.
On Wednesday, the clinic’s building was damaged in a fire that was called in at about 3:50 AM., according to a Casper Fire-EMS news release. Police suspect arson. Someone was seen fleeing from the building holding what might have been a gas can or a bag, police posted on Facebook.
Police are checking out the video footage from the area and looking for the suspect who they believe deliberately torched the fire.
No injuries from the fire were reported.
The nonprofit organization developing and renovating the clinic, Wellspring Health Access, plans to make repairs.
