SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 8, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — For the second time this week, Salt Lake City firefighters found themselves waging a pitched battle against a fast-moving late-night grass fire.
Crews were called out just after 10:15 p.m. Sunday with reports of heavy smoke and flames coming from an area near 2300 N. Beck St and Interstate 15.
When firefighters arrived they were met by a wall of flames 3 stories high and 150 yards wide, according Dan Marlowe, Salt Lake City Fire Department.
Fueled by gusting winds and a seemingly endless supply of tinder-dry grass, the fire threatened nearby structures, as well as the Chevron Refinery.
Firefighters set up a protective perimeter on the east side of the refinery and then systematically began to knock down the flames.
By 11:30 p.m. the SLC Fire Department tweeted the fire was 80 percent contained.
When asked about a cause, Marlowe said the fire appeared to be “accidental” in nature and may have been sparked by faulty brakes on a passing semi-truck.
Before it was extinguished, the fire burned trees, power poles and a stack of railroad ties.
50 to 60 firefighters were called in to battle the 3-alarm blaze, the second such fire in the last 3 days.
Early Friday morning Salt Lake City firefighters battled a 20 acre blaze in the hills above Federal Heights.
There were no reports of injuries in either fire.
