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Team coverageFirefighters battled several fires in the last 24 hours. They've kept the fires from causing too much damage, but conditions can change quickly in this heat.
This summer, Utah has escaped the kind of fierce wildfires that set a record for acreage burned last year, but firefighters worry about intense heat and high winds that can quickly spread a fire.
On Tuesday afternoon, the fire in City Creek Canyon started to spread as afternoon winds picked up. This evening, 200 firefighters and aerial assault crews are working the fire, which is 75 percent contained after burning 130 acres.
Kathy Jo Pollack, with the Northern Utah Fire Interagency Dispatch Center, says, "we did have the higher temperatures and lower humidity, but we've had very little fire activity, and so crews have been able to get in there and work the hard lines fairly well."
The firefighters' top priorities are keeping the fire from burning down the canyon toward homes and spreading into Davis County.
Flames are not visible today. The fire is burning in grass and oak brush. "We do have smoke coming up through that smoke brush, so we'll be looking at going in and taking care of the hot spots," Pollack says. "That's what the helicopters will be doing."
Trails are closed in the area. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but there was no lightning in the area at the time it started. Pollack believes the fire will be fully contained sometime Thursday.
The human-caused fire near Bridal Veil Falls is 80 percent contained. It started six days ago and has burned 240 acres. It destroyed the remnants of an old restaurant.
On the west side of Salt Lake City, a fast-moving grass fire destroyed trailers and forced workers at am RC Willey warehouse to flee
Salt Lake City Fire Chief Dennis McKone said, "It ran right up the side of these trailers, nine trailers that were damaged."
The fire started last night just after 9:00 in the area of 5600 West and 300 South. Crews were able to put out the fire before it spread to the building. "They did an exceptionally great job with the conditions they had in stopping the fire as quickly as they did," McKone said. Fire officials estimate damage between $150,000 and $200,000. The cause is still under investigation.
Another fire kept South Salt Lake firefighters busy this morning at the Stringham Lumber Yard at 3161 S. West Temple. The fire started around 8:30 a.m. in the door-making shop. There is heavy interior damage, and one employee was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation. The cause is still under investigation.
And a fire in Bountiful overnight could have been a lot worse if it weren't for some alert firefighters. Crews were on their way to another call just after midnight when they noticed smoke and flames coming from the Willey Ford car dealership on Main Street and 1800 South.
Firefighters were able to contain those flames to the outside and the attic of the building before the fire caused much damage. Fire officials say electrical problems may to be blame.
Right now, firefighters are working four fires in the state and none presents a major threat.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
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