Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — An unattended campfire is to blame for a wildfire that burned approximately 50 acres in the foothills east of Red Butte Garden, officials said.
Utah Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Erin Darboven said the fire likely was built Saturday and not properly extinguished. The wildfire started about 2:30 p.m. Sunday and was fully contained about 24 hours later.
Crews will continue to extinguish hot spots through Tuesday, officials said.
Investigators were flown to the point of origin Monday and were able to determine the cause, Darboven said.
- 100% contained
- Burned 50 acres
- No injuries
- Unattended campfire the cause
- Call 801-585-COPS with information
No buildings burned in the fire, and radio and microwave towers on Wire Peak were the only structures currently threatened by the blaze. Fire officials monitored the nearby Red Butte Garden and the new Utah Museum of Natural History, and crews were in place in those locations as a precaution.
Officials closed the Bonneville Shoreline Trail between Red Butte Canyon and This Is the Place Heritage Park while firefighters work to contain the wildfire.
USA Endurance's State Capitol half marathon Monday had to be rerouted because of the fire. The original route included a stretch along the base of Red Butte Garden.
Darboven said she had been scheduled to run in the race, which was rerouted to Foothill Drive.
"Unfortunately, I'm not experiencing it myself," she said.
About 90 firefighters from Salt Lake City, the Utah BLM and the U.S. Forest Service battled the blaze overnight, and another 120 crews were on the scene Monday, Darboven said.
That number includes those who fought the fire from the air. Sunday night, a heavy tanker dropped a line of retardant along the hillside to discourage spread of the fire, she said.
The overcast and humid weather Monday made for better firefighting conditions.
Officials are asking anyone with information about the cause of the fire to call 801-585-COPS (2677).
----
Written by Jared Page with contributions from Nkoyo Iyamba and John Hollenhorst.
----
Red Butte Garden Fire; Salt Lake City, UT from Team Thirteen on Vimeo.
