BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 7, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Two new fires have been found in Box Elder County after lightning struck the area Sunday.
Crews already discovered 30 fires in the area, said a news release from Utah Fire Info. Of those, 24 have been extinguished.
A tweet from Utah Fire Info said: “The night of Aug. 4, a large thunderstorm moved through northwest Utah. Hundreds of lightning strikes resulted in an estimated 30 wildfire ignitions. Fire departments from throughout Box Elder County responded and put full effort into locating and suppressing the fires.”
Two new fires were discovered and are believed to have been started by the lightning storm Sunday, said an update from Utah Fire Info Wednesday. State, Bureau of Land Management and local fire crews are managing the fires for full suppression.
The Shelter Pass Fire, which is zero percent contained, was located Tuesday afternoon on the north end of the Hogup Mountains, the update said. The fire is estimated to be 4,000 acres and is not threatening any structures or infrastructure. Fire managers have elected to take a defensive stance and engage the fire if and when it burns out of the steep terrain.
The Prospect Springs Fire, which is 10 percent contained, also made itself known Tuesday just south of I-84 near Snowville, the update said.
“The fire quickly burned 500 acres despite retardant drops and dozer line,” the post continued. “Crews will continue to aggressively fight the fire and keep it from progressing any further.”
The other six fires are in various stages of mop-up and containment are the Russell Fire, at 5,950 acres and 70 percent containment, the Curlew Fire at 4,332 acres and 70 percent containment, the Hogup West Fire at 400 acres, the Bovine Fire at 225 acres, the Rock Springs Fire at 10 acres and the Rock Springs Fire at 10 acres; all at 75 percent containment. The Playground Fire has burned three acres and is 90 percent contained. Full containment on those six fires is expected Wednesday.
“Another set of thunderstorms is forecast for the area Wednesday and Thursday,” the post said. “Fire managers are hopeful that rain will accompany the lightning.”
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
