Fire Investigators Say Birds In Power Lines Start Fire In Tooele Co.
Jul 17, 2019, 10:24 PM | Updated: 10:25 pm
TOOELE COUNTY, Utah — Fire investigators said birds picking at insects in power lines caught fire and ignited dry brush just behind homes in the South Rim neighborhood near Ridgeline Road.
As of Wednesday night, Dave Vickers with Wasatch Front Area Fire Management said the fire burned 351 acres and was 80% contained.
“We will have crews out here all night,” Vickers said. “Around 45 local, state and federal personnel have worked on the fire since it started at 4:00 p.m.”
Initially a home under construction near where the fire started was threatened but winds helped blow the flames away from the neighborhood and toward the hillside.
Resident Savannah Erickson watched for hours as crews fought the flames from the ground and the air.
“It is kind of scary to just see a fire in your front yard,” she said. “It looks like an explosion. There is a tree up there right now and it is getting burnt down by the fire.”
Resident Jayna Hunsaker round comfort in knowing the winds helped crews fight the flames.
“We are reassured that it is moving opposite of where we are,” Hunsaker said. “Right now the hillside is all burnt but in time it’ll grow back. I think what’s most important is that the families that are so close to it weren’t affected.”
