LAYTON, Utah, Sept. 3, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A fast-growing grass fire that broke out Monday night on Snoqualmie Circle above Antelope Drive and U.S. Highway 89 east of Layton is zero percent contained Wednesday morning.
The Snoqualmie Fire, located on the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is currently 128 acres, said news release Wednesday morning on the Utah Fire Info website.
Resources assigned to the fire include 211 personnel, six handcrews and two helicopters.
No one has been injured and no structures have been damaged.
Crews from multiple fire departments began arriving after a passerby on U.S. Highway 89 reported the blaze around 9:30 p.m. A little past 10 p.m., they said the fire was at roughly 30 acres and growing. By 10:30 p.m., Layton Fire Department Battalion Chief Jason N. Cook said the blaze had grown to 40 to 50 acres.
About a half-hour later, officials reported that it was at 80 acres and was expected to grow overnight.
“Municipal, county, state and federal resources responded to the initial report Monday night,” the news release said. “The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest was in Unified command with Layton City Fire Department until 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. The fire was then transferred to the Northern Utah Interagency Type 3 Team. Structure protection was provided throughout this time by multiple cooperating agencies from Salt Lake, Davis and Weber Counties.”
Monday night, a northeast wind pushed the fire towards residences and firefighters put in hose lays and conducted a burn out operation above the homes to protect the structures and help slow the fire’s progression, the news release said. At this point it was decided to evacuate the neighborhood in closest proximity to the fire.
Structure protection engines remained in the evacuated neighborhood through the night. Police officers from Layton City as well as neighboring jurisdictions staffed the evacuation area.
“Tuesday handcrews used chainsaws to clear the thick oak brush before digging fireline on the edge of the fire. Firefighters utilized helicopters to drop water throughout the day on active areas of the fire,” the news release said. “Due to the successful suppression tactics, residents were able to return to their homes by 7:30 p.m.”
Wednesday, firefighters will work throughout the day to secure the fireline and fully suppress the fire’s edge.
A Forest Service closure includes the portions of the Bonneville Shoreline trail that is on National Forest System Lands, Great Western trail and Forest Service roads #083, #083-A, and #083-B and the access from Hobbs Canyon to the Bonneville Shoreline trail and Great Western trail. This includes all motorized vehicles, pedestrian, equestrian, hikers and bikers.
The cause of the fire is as yet unknown and is under investigation, if anyone has information about the cause of the fire they are asked to call Layton fire officials on 801-336-3940.
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more information becomes available.
