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SALT LAKE CITY — Authorities have located two people who they believe are responsible for the Gun Range Fire, which burned several homes in Bountiful last month.
The two people were cited but were not arrested in connection with the fire, according to Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands spokesman Jason Curry. They were not identified.
The fire started Aug. 29 in the foothills east of Bountiful. It was fully contained at 321 acres on Sept. 1.
The blaze destroyed three homes, damaged another eight, and forced evacuations of about 400 residents in the area.
Fire investigators had tracked the origin of the blaze to a small fire ring on the side of a mountain road, according to Curry. Some witnesses who were in the area were able to identify the two people who lit and were tending to the campfire on the night the Gun Range Fire started, a news release from Utah fire officials said.
The two people are cooperating with fire authorities, according to the release.
So far in 2019, Utah fire officials believe 55 wildfires have been started with campfires, the release said.
Several other wildfires are burning throughout Utah.
Neck Fire
The largest fire currently burning in the state is the Neck Fire, located east of Lund in Iron County.
As of Monday morning, the fire had grown from 19,019 acres to 19,151 acres and was 67% contained, according to a news release from Utah Fire Info. The lightning-caused fire started Sept. 5.
There were no structures damaged and none were at risk as of Monday, authorities said. As of 303 people were assigned to fight the fire.
Neck Fire updates: See attachments for map and a morning update from the Incident Management Team. #NeckFire#preventwildfires#NoDronesinFireZones#wildfire#fire#smoke@UtahWildfirepic.twitter.com/z9zYFRYE3e
— BLM Utah (@BLMUtah) September 9, 2019
Mud Springs Road, off of state Route 130 on the east side of the fire, is closed, authorities said. Unpaved roads in the fire area also remain closed. State Route 130 is open through the fire area, according to the release. Drivers are asked to slow down, but not to stop, as they pass through the area.
A red flag fire warning is in effect for the next two days as winds between 25 and 45 mph are expected.
Millard and Juab counties
Several lightning-caused fires continue to burn in central Utah, authorities said.
The Meadow Creek Fire, burning south of Fillmore in Millard County, was last reported at 1,200 acres and 0% containment on Sunday evening.
Today's wildfire picture for Central Utah near Juab/Millard. pic.twitter.com/fKTcmbagnq
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) September 9, 2019
The fire was threatening the municipal watershed of Meadow, according to Utah Fire Info.
The Goat Canyon Fire is burning west of Levan in Juab County. It was reported at 1,594 acres and was 40% containment as of Monday afternoon. Utah Fire Info officials originally said the fire was measured at 4,594 acres but later corrected the information.
Another firefighting crew was set to arrive in the fire area Monday morning to make progress before increased winds were expected to arrive, according to Utah Fire Info.
Yesterday's fire coverage:
More than 3,000 acres burned in Goat Canyon, Meadow Creek fires in Millard, Juab counties
Two new wildfires have have started in Juab and Millard counties, officials confirmed Sunday afternoon.Editor's note: A previous version of this story said two people were arrested in connection with the Gun Range Fire. It has been updated to say that they were cited, but were not arrested.
