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DUGWAY, Tooele County — A fire burning on Dugway Proving Ground impacted 4,000 acres Saturday, consuming a total of 900 acres by day's end.
"This is definitely the biggest we've had this year," Jason Curry, public information officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said of the Rough Haul fire.
The blaze started between 2:30 and 3 p.m. and rapidly grew, aided by dry vegetation and wind. No homes or structures are currently threatened and no evacuations have been ordered, but Curry said that if the fire continues to grow, "that could become an issue."
"We're always worried about that and are making sure that's a priority, after firefighter safety," Curry said of protecting homes.
It was initially believed that the fire was burning on 4,000 acres, but Curry said that once some of the smoke cleared, it appeared to be burning on approximately 900 acres. He said there were a number of smaller pockets of fire with large, unburned areas between leaving 4,000 acres impacted, but not burning.
It's quite a significant reduction in acreage. When there's smoke ... it can be hard to tell. Now that the smoke has died down, we can get a clearer view.
–Jason Curry, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands
"It's quite a significant reduction in acreage," Curry said. "When there's smoke ... it can be hard to tell. Now that the smoke has died down, we can get a clearer view."
Both the Dugway and Tooele County Fire Departments were initially battling the blaze, but 60 more firefighting personnel arrived Saturday evening, including two hot shot crews. Dugway public affairs officer Al Vogel said volunteer firefighters from Stockton, Terra and Rush Valley also responded.
Curry said two single-engine air tankers were also out working on the fire Saturday.
"We're in fire season," Curry said. "It's dried out and the cheat grass is at the point where any kind of ignition is a threat."
Curry said that there are concerns with unexploded ordinances in the area, prompting them to order two helicopters to respond and fight the fire Sunday morning.
There is some containment on the Rough Haul Fire, but Curry did not have an exact percentage Saturday.
The fire's cause is under investigation.
Contributing: Devon Dolan
