This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A fast moving, wind-fueled wildfire was burning out of control late Wednesday night in Box Elder County.
By about 10 p.m., a pilot flying over the fire estimated the blaze had already consumed about 1,000 acres, said spokesman Jason Curry of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. It was not contained.
Curry said the fire, burning on the north end of the Promontory Mountains in the area of Mount Tarpey about 20 miles north of Promontory Point, was first reported about 7:30 p.m.
He said the blaze was burning north, fueled by winds of at least 15 mph.
"A fast moving fire like this can cover a lot of ground," he said.
Late Wednesday night, Curry said several structures had been threatened near the Fort Ranch, but fire crews burned the area surrounding the buildings to create a buffer between them and the oncoming blaze. He said there are structures like the Fort Ranch airstrip east of the fire.
"There's a lot of remote ranch houses and structures in the area," he said.
Officials said the blaze may have been sparked by lightning. He said about a half-dozen different fire departments were battling the fire and air support was expected to arrive in the morning.
Janelle Stecklein