LEEDS, Utah, July 20, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — Interstate 15 has reopened in both directions and all evacuations have been lifted after the Cottonwood Trail Fire broke out southwest of Leeds in Washington County Sunday evening.
The fire quickly grew to 3,000 acres and is 10% contained, Utah Fire Info tweeted.
“Only local traffic is allowed in the Angel Heights area,” said a tweet from Utah Fire Info Monday morning. “Drive with caution near the fire for firefighter safety, crews will be working along the freeway today.”
Officials said a Type 3 team will take command of the fire Monday.
The fire was first reported shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday and was estimated at 1,000 acres. By 6:30 p.m., it had grown to an estimated 3,000 acres, up from 2,000 acres just an hour earlier.
The fire was being pushed by 15-20 mph winds and I-15 was shut down in both directions.
Evacuations were initially ordered Sunday afternoon for residents of Harrisburg and those west of I-15 in Leeds; Red Cliffs Campground also was evacuated.
Thirty engines, three large air tankers and four helicopters from multiple agencies worked on suppressing the fire, which officials have determined was started by a blown tire along the highway, Utah Fire Info tweeted.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this story as information is made available.
