This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A wildfire burning near the Box Elder County town of Willard continued to grow Saturday but was no longer threatening homes or structures, authorities said.
Meanwhile, a blaze near Vernal burned about 885 acres by Saturday. It initially threatened dozens of homes before moving in a different direction. As of Saturday evening, the fire was 30 percent contained.
Murry Hill Fire • In Box Elder, the Murray Hill Fire started at 7 p.m. Friday east of U.S. Highway 89 due to a spark from a powerline, Box Elder County emergency officials said. Fanned by 20 mph winds, the blaze at first threatened more than 15 structures as it quickly grew to more than 100 acres.
"It was going right at homes and businesses," county spokesman Mitch Zundel said.
The most recent tally was 211 acres by Saturday, according to a Box Elder County Fire news release. By Saturday evening, 75 percent of the fire was contained, and fire officials were confident the fire would be fully contained Sunday.
By Saturday afternoon, it was no longer threatening structures, instead moving uphill and away from the town, as it burned through brush and small trees, Zundel said. Officials hoped rocky outcroppings in the hills east of the highway would impede its progress.
About 70 fire personnel from around the region were on the scene.
Maeser Highway Fire • West of Vernal, the Maeser Highway Fire sparked Friday afternoon adjacent to State Route 121. It quickly grew due to high temperatures and wind. A temporary evacuation was ordered for the Yellow Hills subdivision, but it was lifted Friday evening.
However, residents of the Yellow Hills and Painted Hills subdivision were asked to prepare for evacuation if conditions change.
The fire continues to move north, burning through juniper, small brush and grass, officials said Saturday.
Fire officials believe the blaze was started by a human, but the exact cause remains under investigation. About 120 firefighters were on the scene, along with eight engines, one dozer and several aircraft.
Other fires around Utah • Several other fires were burning around the state as of Saturday afternoon, though none was threatening homes.
A pair of fires were burning in the Dixie National Forest north of the town of Pine Valley in southeast Utah. The North Fire was about 492 acres as of noon Saturday; the Grass Valley Fire was about 13 acres. By Saturday evening, the North Fire was 5 percent contained and the Grass Valley Fire was 90 percent contained.
Officials expected the fires to grow due to stiff winds and hot temperatures in the area. The cause of both blazes remained under investigation.
Another 50-acre fire was reported at about noon Satuday southeast of the northern Utah town of Portage. Fourteen firefighters were working the blaze; the cause was unknown.
A fire south of Eagle Mountain was sparked by target shooting at 4 p.m., said Unified Fire Battallion Chief Steve Prokopis. The adults who had been shooting in Kiowa Valley reported the fire, cooperated with fire officials and won't be charged, Prokopis said. No structures were threatened by the blaze and by Saturday evening, the fire was completely contained.
Twitter: @lramseth