A subdivision in Summit County was warned Monday it might have to run from a fire.
A blaze ignited near Echo Reservoir in Summit County and quickly burned 350 acres. Summit County and fire crews offered multiple names for the blaze Monday then settled on calling it the Tervels Fire. Firefighters battled the blaze into the night.
The fire burned near mile marker 170 and a rest stop along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80. An eastbound lane of the interstate was closed to keep motorists back from the fire and give room for firefighters. An aircraft dropped retardant.
Residents in Echo Creek Ranches were warned they may have to evacuate. A state wildfire Twitter account later tweeted that arson has been determined as the cause of the fire. Anyone with information in the case can call the Summit County Sheriff’s Office at 435-615-3600.
There was better news Monday in Tooele County, where the Lakeside Fire was contained. It reached 9,900 acres, according to a state website.
Tooele County Fire Warden Dan Walton told FOX 13 that target shooters began the Lakeside Fire on Saturday afternoon.
Also Monday, hand crews from the U.S. Forest Service snuffed two small fires burning in Millcreek Canyon.
Keith Garner, spokesman for the Unified Fire Authority, said a hiker reported smoke about 6:50 a.m. UFA firefighters couldn’t find anything, but the Forest Service had a helicopter fly over and it spotted two bonfire-sized blazes.
The hand crew hiked to the hard-to-reach fires and extinguished them. Garner said the crew is staying on the scene to guard against flare-ups. Garner said firefighters don’t know what started the blazes.
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