BOUNTIFUL, Utah, Aug. 30, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials shared an update Friday morning on the Gun Range Fire, which tore through Bountiful’s bench area overnight, destroying three residences and caused the evacuation of an estimated 400 homes.
The fire has burned somewhere between 150 and 300 acres — a more exact estimate is coming soon — and is uncontained.
Firefighters from northern Utah and one crew from Idaho have been fighting the fire since shortly after it was reported, at about 1 a.m. Friday, Lt. Dave Edwards, Bountiful Police Department, told reporters at about 10 a.m. Friday.
“We simply don’t know the cause,” Edwards said, adding that it is believed the fire began high up the mountain, above residences.
“About 1 this morning, Bountiful Police officer on the north side of our city saw a fire on the east bench, saw it up on the mountainside,” Edwards said. “He immediately summoned all fire resources and began evacuating the homes in that area.
“At the time the fire occurred, there was a heavy wind coming west, down the mountainside, driving the fire toward residences on the eastern and northern ends of our city.”
“… Even though there’s been a property loss, and families are devastated by that, there’s been no loss of life and no injuries.”
Edwards said he believes “… eight structures were involved with the fire, and were damaged at some level, and approx three homes were totaled out.”
The current areas still under evacuation are 900 east, eastward to city limits, and 900 north, extending north toward city limits, Edwards said.
The evacuation order is in place due to “the potential for flare ups, the potential for hotspots, and the large number of fire apparatus in the area, and just strictly for public safety.”
Bountiful and other area residents have come forward with donations to help those in need, Edwards said.
Kim Osborn, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said the fire could continue burning for a couple days. Efforts to fight it will be more aggressive today, she said, adding that the initial priority was defensive, due to endangered members of the public.
With residents evacuated and in the daylight, crews can battle the blaze more directly, she said, adding that the heat of day will also make the effort more difficult.
Edwards said weather and winds mean conditions may change.
“This is an evolving situation, and things can change. We are by no means out of the woods on this.”
Edwards also said that crews are being called in from further away since the original 120 or so firefighters had been battling the blaze for hours. Law enforcement agents from surrounding areas came in to knock on doors during the evacuation, and some remain to direct traffic, he said.
