TOOELE COUNTY, Utah, July 27, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials announced Friday night that Middle Canyon and Butterfield Canyon roads will be closed until further notice, due to the fires in the area.
According to Utah Fire Info, the Middle Canyon Fire, as of 8 p.m. Friday, has consumed 200 acres and is 5 percent contained. Its cause is still under investigation.
Fifty personnel are working the fire, which was reported at about 9 p.m. Thursday. Two helicopters, two single-engine air tankers, one heavy air tanker and two engines are on scene.
Thursday night, wind gusts pushed the fire from five acres to more than 80, and inaccessible, steep terrain makes suppression efforts difficult.
The fire has remained active Friday, burning grass, oak brush, juniper and timber.
Utah Fire Info said in the 8 p.m. update, “The fire has shown high resistance to fire fighting activities via aerial and ground resources. Air resources have been dropping water and fire retardant to slow fire progression. Ground crews have been establishing a line where structures are most threatened. Additional resources have been ordered.”
The plan for Saturday is to use dozers and air resources to slow the fire’s progression up the canyon on the north and northeast flanks until ground resources arrive.
The goal, Utah Fire Info said, is to protect the Tooele municipal watershed, minimize the fire spread into the Tooele valley, and identify trigger points for evacuations in Butterfield.
Gephardt Daily will provide updated information as it becomes available.
