Firewatch: 6400 Fire Likely Caused By Vehicle, Authorities Say
Aug 10, 2020, 12:45 PM | Updated: 12:46 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Firefighters Monday continued to battle a human-caused wildfire near Fruitland in Duchesne County.
The 6400 Fire has burned 225 acres and is 50% contained.
It destroyed one home and damaged others. Residents were able to return to their homes Sunday after an evacuation order.
“I’m sure they were up all night worried about things,” said Mike Riksson with the Division of Fire Forestry and State Lands.
He said the 6400 Fire began around noon Sunday and was spotted almost immediately.
“When the fire started, the firefighters were there in church just right across the street,” Riksson said. “One of them is a chief there. They went and grabbed their engines – the fire department is just a block away. They were on scene within minutes.”
However, strong winds proved challenging, and the fire spread quickly. On Monday, about 50 firefighters were working on containment. Several areas could be seen smoldering just off Highway 40 near Fruitland.
Several fire starts along the highway indicate the blaze was sparked by a vehicle.
“Generally, that’s a sign of something being dragged, something shooting sparks,” Riksson said. “It could be something the exhaust, something like that.”
The fire remains under investigation.
It was one of multiple fires burning in the state Monday, including another new start in Logan Canyon.
The Card Canyon Fire is burning near Highway 89 and is threatening homes.
It’s a relatively small fire, and by noon Monday it had burned approximately four acres and was 15% contained.
Crews are concerned about the Choke Cherry Summer Homes in the area.
Helicopters were called in to help fight the fire, prompting officials to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road and not slow down or stop to watch.
Fire officials said the Card Canyon Fire was human-caused, and the incident is under investigation.
In Salt Lake County, residents who were evacuation by the Parley’s Fire are now back home.
The Mt. Aire community reopened Sunday night. It had been shut down since Thursday.
The Parley’s Fire is now at 90% containment, and there’s no new growth.
