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MINERSVILLE, Beaver County — Crews battling a fire that grew nearly four times its size in less than 24 hours were working against building thunderstorms in Southern Utah.
Named the Black Mountain Fire, the blaze was lit by lightning Tuesday evening about 3 miles out of Minersville. Wednesday it had burned 1 1/4 square miles, or 1,100 acres, but by Thursday morning it had grown to a little more than 7 square miles, or 4,517 acres, of wildland.
As crews estimated 30 percent containment of the fire, increasing wind conditions and the chance of precipitation with lightning threatened from the skies above.
The Bureau of Land Management said Thursday morning that it was threatening one cabin, and that residents of Beaver and Iron counties should expect smoke and ash to impact the areas.
No evacuations were in effect Thursday, though Chalk Hollow, Maple Springs, Black Mountain and the Camel Hollow roads were closed.
Comprised of 270 firefighters, hand crews, engines and air crews were fighting the flames burning the dry cheatgrass, brush, pinyon and juniper Thursday. That afternoon, air tankers laid down retardant lines to support ground crews.
Two firefighters had been treated in the hospital Wednesday for dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Top image: Utah Fire Info
