Radio Hill Fire In Box Elder County Grows To Over 2,300 Acres

TREMONTON, Utah – Firefighters in Box Elder County worked aggressively throughout the day to contain a fire just north of Tremonton.

Fire investigators believed the Radio Hill Fire was ignited by two lightning strikes overnight, then burned into one fire, reaching around 2,300 acres by late Monday afternoon. As of noon Monday, the fire was just 10 percent contained. That was when the fire was at just 1,500 acres.

More than a hundred firefighters worked to contain the blaze on the ground, while a couple of helicopters, small planes, and two air-tankers helped support the operation from above.

“We’re trying to get this caught, especially with all the homes to the south,” said Todd Richards, with the Box Elder County Fire Department. “We’re really trying to concentrate on the south side to get it knocked down.”

#radiohillfire now at 1,800 acres. Helicopter and tanker doing drops. About 85 firefighters on the ground near Bothwell. pic.twitter.com/t4IbM1WkaD

— Mike Anderson (@mikeandersonKSL) July 15, 2019

The fire still had a good distance to go before threatening nearby homes in Tremonton. Some slight winds pushed flames to the northeast. Still, some homeowners like Martin Williams stopped by to check on the firefighters’ progress.

“I think they’re getting it under control, looks like to me,” Martin said. “My home is just over (the hill), and if (the fire) gets over on the east side, going down, then you’ve got a lot of homes there.”

A drone flying in the area briefly brought air operations to a halt. Officials have repeatedly asked people to keep drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) away from wildfires, so that firefighters can do their jobs.

Richards pointed out that conditions are shaping up for very high fire danger in the coming weeks.

“The area is dried out. Underbrush is getting really tinder-dry,” Richards said. “Any type of off-road (vehicles), any campfires, fireworks, or anything can start a fire right now.”