Font ResizeWinds whipped up a fire burning southeast of Scipio on Tuesday, forcing the Utah Highway Patrol to close U.S. Highway 50 for several hours in both directions between Scipio and Salina in central Utah.
The Sawmill Canyon Fire grew from 5,183 acres to 6,300 acres by Tuesday night, causing power lines to arc and knocking out electricity for more than 3,800 people, mostly in the towns of Scipio, Fillmore and Delta from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Lisa Reid said winds forced the fire to jump the highway and it started burning east. No structures or private property was threatened.
The Utah Highway Patrol reopened the highway at 7:30 p.m. UHP Trooper Cameron Roden said the highway was closed for safety reasons because of smoke obscuring visibility after the fire flared up.
The fire, started Aug. 6 by lightening, has been actively fought when not burning in steep terrain to prevent potential damage to private property, said Reid. It is also burning on U.S. Forest Service, BLM and state trust lands.
The fire is burning in steep rocky mountainsides. The majority of the suppression efforts are being conducted at lower elevations by cutting fire lines being cut and using rock outcroppings.
On Monday, the fire in the higher elevations made an active run and started spot fires at lower elevations, where firefighters were conducting burnout operations and cutting fire lines with bulldozers.
Erin Alberty contributed to this report
