PROVO, Utah, July 31, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A raging brush fire kept Provo Fire Department crews fighting the blaze on two flanks late Tuesday night, and it looks like the battle will continue well into Wednesday morning.
Firefighters were dispatched at 10:35 p.m. to 2200 S. Alaska Ave., from which point the flames spread through the area between Alaska Avenue and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, scorching about 50 acres, Provo Fire Chief James Miguel said.
“It’s visible all over Utah County and is attracting a lot of people,” Miguel told Gephardt Daily at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday. “The good news is that it’s burning above the Shoreline Trail, and the trail is quite a firebreak, so we’re defending the trail, and no homes are being threatened.”
Miguel said the fire is on U.S. Forest Service land and will soon be transitioned over to Forest Service and Utah County personnel. Provo fire crews will remain on scene to facilitate communication.
“We have a lot of resources here,” Miguel said.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Miguel said it is being investigated as human-caused.
“There was no lightning in the area, no apparent natural cause,” he said.
Just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, Provo Fire Capt. Dean York told Gephardt Daily the fire is 50-plus acres and growing, but crews have protected the power lines, and there have been no evacuations.
“It’s rugged terrain,” York said. “I anticipate more air drops than hand crews.”
Resources on scene for the Alaska Fire are eight engines, one 10-person Utah County squad and one water tender. Resources are from Utah County, Provo City, Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands and Forest Service. Three 20-person crews, one Type 1 helicopter, and two heavy air tankers have been ordered.
Gephardt Daily will follow up on this story as more information becomes available.
THANK You for the help.
People on every corner, watching/wondering up here.Looks So Close!
Police have blockaided behind the Church.