4 new wildfires ignite in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – Wildfires that caught fire on Wednesday afternoon destroyed homes and left firefighter crews and resources "pretty much exhausted".

"Today, there has been a lot of wind, very dry," said Nick Howell, head of public information for a fire on Pine Mountain Mountain in southern Utah. He said the same weather conditions are expected in the area for the next few days as firefighters continue to work.

The fire in Washington County – called the West Valley Wildfire – burned up to 2,000 acres and was threatening 10 homes located between 3 and 5 miles from the fire, he said. . Firefighters reported nil confinement on Wednesday night.

Powered by wood, brush and grbad, the fire started around 3 pm. in an area 1 mile east of Gardner Peak and 3 miles northeast of the Pine Valley campground, Howell said.

He said the fire was burning in a designated wilderness area with a lot of fuel.

"Depending on what the fire will do tomorrow with the highest weather conditions in terms of fire danger, I think tomorrow will tell us a lot about the duration of this incident," Howell said. , adding that more resources from outside of Utah were on their way to help extinguish the fire.

The fire was one of four that erupted across Utah Wednesday, including:

• A fire dubbed the Fruitland Shed Fire in Fruitland, Duchesne County, burned about 8 to 10 acres, said Utah fire officials. Firefighters were "controlling" the fire on Wednesday afternoon, said Travis Tucker, deputy chief of the Duchesne District Sheriff.

Two houses and a shed were destroyed, according to the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office, although the damage caused by the fire was still determined Wednesday night.

Raegan Cutler, a resident who lives on the fire road, said the fire was "like a hell scene".

"It's extremely dangerous here, we have not had snow this year," she said.

Mike Eriksson, of the Forestry, Fire and Land Division of Utah State, said on Wednesday night that the fire was still estimated at 8 to 10 acres, but firefighters expected to be able to mop it up Thursday.

A firefighter was treated for the inhalation of smoke from the fire, he said.

Eriksson said the fire appeared to be of human origin and was the subject of an investigation.

• The raw fire in Broad Canyon in Box Elder County was estimated at 1,200 acres after burning for several hours, according to firefighters. According to Leann Fox, she was reportedly caused by the man with the Forestry, Fire and Land Division of the state of Utah. At approximately 9:30 pm, she stated that there had been no confinement.
• A fourth fire, the Dry Canyon Fire in Parowan, burned 20 acres, fire officials said. At approximately 20:00, firefighters reported progress due to cooling temperatures and wind reduction, but did not provide estimated containment.

contributing: Caitlin Burchill, KSL TV

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