This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A new wildfire near the Smith and Morehouse Reservoir in Summit County had topped 60 acres Friday, but no homes were threatened.
The Box Canyon Fire was spotted about 5 p.m. Thursday, prompting the evacuation by helicopter of 19 hikers from trails in the area, said Fire Information Officer Loyal Clark.
"It was a precautionary measure for public safety, but none of them was in imminent danger," she said Friday.
The fire continued to slowly spread through a drainage about 3 miles south of the reservoir, burning in heavy timber and undergrowth.
Clark said the Ledge Fork Campground had been closed, but that was primarily to keep the roads and trails nearby clear for firefighters and equipment.
Eleven firefighters and a helicopter were keeping watch on the blaze Friday morning. Due to the remote, rugged and inaccessible terrain where the flames were burning, Clark said it was possible crews would take a passive, defensive approach to fighting the fire.
The cause of the blaze was undetermined, though thunderstorms with lightning had been reported in the region in recent days.
Continuing hot, dry weather remains a critical factor in firefighting plans, with much of the state under Red Flag or Fire Weather advisories into the weekend.
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