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Samantha Hayes ReportingCrews in central Utah tonight are fighting at least nine fires. The largest, which is called the Black Bird Mine Fire, has grown to 700 acres-east of Marysvale. Crews are finishing clean up tonight on a brush fire near Saratoga Springs, by Israel Canyon.
The fire burned several acres, but quick response and a helicopter carrying water put flames down. No word on how it started.
Getting resources to brush fires like that one takes a lot of coordination among fire departments. They rely on a central agency that works behind the scenes all day, every day.
While towns, counties and cities all have boundaries, fires do not. That's why there are five interagency fire centers around the state to help coordinate resources wherever a fire breaks out.
They take the heat, but rarely get the glory.
Wendy Grey: "When it happens, everybody does something different."
Wendy Grey can find out who is working and where. Greg Blank readies helicopters and air tankers. And Darron Williams makes sure crews on the ground have everything they need.
Darron Williams: "We've got firefighters out in the field, but they're doing their thing, but need somebody here to help get what they need so they can get the fires out."
It works like this: The fire in Saratoga Springs, west of Utah Lake is in area 53. An automatic page goes out to anyone who fights fires in that area. The BLM, Forest Service, Utah County, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs worked together to put the fire out quickly.
Coordinating all of that is something the interagency fire center does every day, and more often this time of year.
Paige Catron: "Lightning affects us a lot, and when we have lightning we usually stay later."
Lighting heightens the ignition risk, so they'll be on their toes tomorrow too. They say it's been an early start to the season this year, compared to last year when things didn't get revved up until July.
