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BOX ELDER COUNTY — Three lightning-caused wildfires in remote Box Elder County were all 100% contained on Thursday evening, state and federal fire officials reported through Utah Fire Info.
The Peplin, Maitlin and Bar H fires were all first reported Wednesday evening, fire officials said. On Thursday, all were still burning northwest of the Great Salt Lake in remote areas of Box Elder County.
The Matlin Fire had burned an estimated 8,000 acres, up from 1,500 acres Wednesday night, fire officials said. The fire destroyed two historic railroad trestle bridges in the area, according to Box Elder County public information officer Mitch Zundel.
The fire threatened several other structures, but firefighters gained control in the area late Thursday morning and the structures are no longer threatened, according to Zundel. It was estimated to be 50% contained, officials said earlier Thursday.
The Peplin Fire is estimated at 1,000 acres and grew about 400 acres overnight.
The #BarHFire is 85% contained and the latest size estimate is 1,352 acres. The #MatlinFire is 50% contained and still estimated at 8,000 acres. #ffslkw
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 4, 2020
The Bar H Fire, burning in Hansel Valley, was estimated to be 1,352 acres and was 85% contained as of Thursday morning.
A smaller human-caused fire also started Wednesday when a farmer used a cutting torch to install a gate at a property adjacent to the Golden Spike National Historic Park.
The farmer was able to help contain the fire using his tractor, and fire crews were later able to put it out. The fire burned about 2 acres, Zundel said.
Structures were no longer threatened by any of the three fires as of Thursday.
