Utah Highway Patrol on Sunday morning closed Mirror Lake Highway because of smoke from the Murdock Fire and concerns about public and firefighter safety.

The Murdock Fire, which ignited after a lightning strike on Aug. 28, is burning about 1½ miles east of Mirror Lake Highway, or State Route 150, on about 4,475 acres. Due to strong winds, smoke from the fire impacted visibility along the highway, forcing UHP to close the corridor from Murdock Basin Turnoff to Ruth Lake Campground. It’s unclear when it might reopen.

In the past week, firefighters have faced extremely dangerous conditions as the Murdock Fire consumes dead and downed trees in very steep areas. As of Sunday morning, it was 10 percent contained, mostly on its southern flank and western flank, where it’s blocked by the granite cliffs of Murdock Basin.

The nearby Slate Fire, which started on Sept. 23, now stands at 662 acres. It’s estimated to be 34 percent contained.