This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Crews on Monday entered their third week battling a still smoldering blaze along the steep, rugged and remote slopes of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Summit County.
Heber-Kamas Ranger District spokeswoman Brenda Bushnell said the Box Canyon Fire had burned 2,712 acres and was 15 percent contained. The fire was first spotted on July 28, about 12 miles east of Oakley.
On Monday, 66 firefighters focused on both shoring up lines on the perimeter of the blaze and conducting "burn out" operations within the fire's boundaries.
By torching previously untouched patches of conifer, aspen and heavy brush undergrowth still inside the fire area, crews hoped to deny the fire of ready fuels for another surge.
A Red Flag Warning was in effect through Tuesday for the fire area, with vegetation there continuing to be extremely dry. Thunderstorms were expected on Tuesday, but fire managers feared dry lightning could rekindle dormant sections of the fire, or start new blazes.
Water- and fire-retardant bearing helicopters continued to fly missions to bombard hot spots, and more specifically to prevent flames from spreading east from the Smith and Morehouse Creek drainage into the Hells Kitchen and Erickson Basin areas.
About half of the Ledgefork Campground, 2 miles from the fire lines, remained closed on Monday as a precaution, as was the Smith and Morehouse Trail and boat ramp.
Though determined to be human-caused, fire investigators still are looking for any persons of interest. Anyone with information is asked to call 801-999-2116.
Twitter: @remims