Firefighters Battle “Human-Caused” Fire In Spanish Fork
Jul 3, 2019, 10:30 PM
SPANISH FORK, Utah – Crews were battling a fire in Spanish Fork Canyon Wednesday night, the fourth “human-caused” brush fire in the state in just two days.
The Long Hollow Fire sparked up at around 5 p.m. on the north side of highway 6, less than 10 miles into the canyon. By about 10 p.m. on Wednesday it had burned an estimated 30 to 40 acres.
“This is a really good reminder ahead of the weekend,” said U.S. Forest service official Monica Morrison, who is with the Salt Lake Ranger District. “Fuels are receptive. They’re going to challenge us and they are ready to burn. It’s been kind of a wet spring but things are ready to burn now.”
One of the challenges with the fire is the terrain. Crews from Spanish Fork and Utah County along with Alta hotshots had to hike up to the flames burning through the rugged hills.
Another concern has been the powerlines which hang over the hills. Fire crews are keeping a close eye on them as helicopters make bucket drops from above.
The Long Hollow Fire is burning just across the freeway from where the Coal Hollow Fire burned last year. That fire burned around 30,000 acres and forced evacuations across three counties.
Fire crews expect to be on scene on the Long Hollow Fire for the next couple of days.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
