Fire Crews Respond To Utah County Hay Fire
Aug 6, 2021, 6:04 AM | Updated: 1:51 pm
(Utah County Fire Marshal)
ELBERTA, Utah — An estimated 600 to 800 tons of hay were burned in a fire that broke out early Friday morning in southern Utah County.
Utah County fire officials said three engines from Goshen, Genola and Santaquin and four tenders responded to the fire.
Blain Coombs, station captain with the Saratoga Springs Fire Department said the fire was fully contained Friday afternoon and things have been turned back over to the property owners.
The blaze could smolder and produce smoke for the next few days while it burns itself out.
Ten agencies responded to the fire, and Coombs said no injuries were reported and no structures were damaged.
The Utah County Fire Marshal said the fire is currently under investigation.
Coombs estimated the cost of the hay — which is in short supply across the West — at around $192,500.
Still a lot of work to do on this hay fire near Elberta. pic.twitter.com/WNI8dFv2G3
— Utah County Fire Marshal (@UC_FireMarshal) August 6, 2021
The Utah Department of Natural Resources reported that 77% of hay and roughage supplies are rated as short or very short, and 69% of pasture and rangelands are rated as poor to very poor.
Crews reported seeing smoke from the fire across Utah Valley, from Payson to American Fork. However, it is not the cause of the smoke that produced some of the world’s worst air quality in Salt Lake City on Friday.