FORT DUCHESNE, Uintah County — A human-caused fire prompted the temporary closure of U.S. 40 in Uintah County on Tuesday.
The blaze began about 4 p.m. near the intersection of 7500 East and U.S. 40 in Fort Duchesne. The fire burned about 20 acres, and an initial evacuation warning was issued as a precautionary measure, said Jordan Nesbitt, public information officer with the Uinta Basin Fire Center.
Fire growth was stopped, but crews were still monitoring hot spots, according to Nesbitt.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Nesbitt said it's too early to know whether the fire was set intentionally.
Police in Fort Duchesne initially said a field fire burning south of Ute Petroleum and Ute Plaza was "spreading rapidly," and urged people to stay away from the area to allow for emergency crews to respond.
The fire burned near the highway, reducing visibility due to the wind.
The Utah Department of Transportation said all lanes of the highway had reopened by about 7 p.m.
