This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A grass fire scorched several acres near Salt Lake City railroad tracks.
The fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. Friday near 400 S. Redwood Road (1700 West). It burned about three to four acres in one spot and less than an acre in a second before firefighters had it contained.
"On a hot day like this with dry grass, it doesn't take much," said Jasen Asay, spokesman for the Salt Lake City Fire Department.
Investigators determined that both fires were caused by sparks from an eastbound train.
There are several businesses, including a tree service business, nearby. Protecting those businesses was a top priority for the firefighters, particularly with the wind blowing in that direction.
"It would have gotten a lot bigger and taken a lot more resources to deal with," Asay said. "Our crews did a fantastic job."
The Utah Department of Transportation was urging commuters to use an alternate route near 500 S. Redwood Road.
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