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ANTELOPE ISLAND -- Antelope Island has reopened after a wildfire started by lightning forced the evacuation of two campgrounds.
The fire burned 660 acres in the north quadrant of the island. Jason Curry with the Utah Division of Forestry told KSL the fire was 100 percent contained as of 5 a.m.
About 100 campers from the White Rock Bay and the Bridger Bay campgrounds were evacuated when the fires started and waited at the marina until they were allowed to return. Others packed up and went home.
Curry says the campgrounds did not burn. Some fence line by White Rock Bay was damaged, however.
Ranger residents in the area were not damaged.
The fire started Thursday night with a thunderstorm and a bolt of lightning. Once some brush was burning, the winds pushed it quickly across the island. Wildlife was a concern.
"The wildlife here on the island has limited food supply and vegetation," Curry said. "When we get these fires we're pretty concerned and want to keep them small so they have a lesser impact on the food supply."
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Written with contributions from Randall Jeppesen and Shara Park.
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