1,700-Acre Green Ravine Fire Human-Caused, Authorities Say
Sep 4, 2019, 1:33 PM | Updated: 5:45 pm
LAKE POINT, Utah – Fire officials on Wednesday confirmed the Green Ravine Fire burning in Tooele County was human-caused. However, they haven’t determined what human element sparked the blaze.
The fire started Tuesday afternoon and has burned over 1,700 acres. It was 10% contained as of Wednesday afternoon.
No mandatory evacuations were in place, but some Lake Point residents felt the flames were too close for comfort.
“Here (are) our dream homes, and suddenly they just might be going up in flames,” resident Kristina Tobler said. “You start looking around and thinking, ‘Wow, this is an actual possibility.'”
Now officials say the #GreenRavineFire was human caused and is under investigation #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/JN4E5FcSTN
— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) September 4, 2019
Tobler said she and her family have only lived in their home for one year now. With the fire creeping dangerously close, though, she’s worried.
“It’s been such a dry summer,” she said. “With all the rain in the spring, we knew there was a lot of growth and there was a big chance for a fire. But to actually have it start and see the whole fire go up, it was scary.”
Crews are now in day two battling the blaze, which has burned the west side of the Oquirrh Mountains just above Lake Point. The fire is expected to grow as the wind picks up.
One of the biggest challenges has been the very steep terrain. The mountainside is also an old mining area, so it poses a danger to fire crews.
As of now, it appears the homes will be safe.
Aerial video from @KSLChopper5 of the #GreenRavineFire details on #KSLTV in a few minutes pic.twitter.com/89MVBTuKes
— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) September 4, 2019
“Right now we don’t anticipate any evacuations,” said Jason Curry, public information officer for the Green Ravine Fire. “Most of the threat along the perimeter near the homes is fairly calm.”
Another focus will be on keeping the blaze away from a major communication site located at the top of Farnsworth Peak, about one mile up from the fire’s edge.
Tobler, who self-evacuated her family Tuesday, said she is hopeful but ready.
“Grab the laptops and grab the kids,” she said.
