- Firefighters in Murray battled a fast-moving brush fire near the TRAX line.
- Crews used minimal water initially, then hand tools, due to Utah's drought.
- Murray Assistant Fire Chief Stephen Olson highlighted the need for water conservation during wildfires.
MURRAY — A fast-moving brush fire fueled by dry grass and challenging access conditions broke out along the TRAX line in Murray Monday afternoon.
Firefighters initially used just enough water to knock down the flames before switching to another method to fully contain the fire — part of a conscious effort to conserve water during a critically dry year in Utah.
"What we decided to do was keep that containment and then transition to more hand tools so we could conserve water," said Stephen Olson, assistant fire chief with the Murray Fire Department.
Officials said there was no formal directive from the city to limit water use, but crews are mindful of drought conditions affecting the entire state.
The fire started just before 1 p.m. near 5300 South and Cottonwood Street, where Chopper 5 footage showed smoke and flames moving through dry vegetation.
Olson said the unusually dry conditions this year are shaping how crews approach wildfires.
"It's a lot more dry compared to a typical year," Olson said, adding that firefighters are anticipating a significant wildfire season. "We know this is going to be a big drought year."
After the initial knockdown, crews turned off hoses and used hand tools to complete containment, carefully limiting water use.
"When we open a fire hydrant, we need there to be water. We don't want it to be dry," Olson said, emphasizing the importance of conservation.
While using fewer water resources can mean more labor-intensive work and a longer cleanup process, firefighters said the tradeoff is necessary.
"We could just keep dumping swimming pools of water on it, but we're cognizant of the conservation effort," Olson said.
The fire burned about half an acre. Officials noted that even a fire that size could have required thousands of gallons of water under a different approach.
Crews said they are preparing for a busy wildfire season across the state.
"It's not if, but where," Olson said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
