Winds driving wildfires in Tooele, Salt Lake counties
Jun 17, 2022, 1:45 PM | Updated: May 21, 2023, 4:42 pm
UPDATE: As of June 18th, the Lakeshore Fire is 100% contained, according to Utah Fire Info.
#LakeshoreFire is 100% contained and fully controlled. The fire will be patrolled over the next couple of days.
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 19, 2022
UPDATE: A new wildfire sparked Friday night at the junction of SR-201 and I-80.
State fire officials estimated that the Cypress Fire, which is burning east of the Lakeshore Fire, had burned 100 acres as of 9 p.m.
New start #CypressFire is burning along I-80 east of #LakeshoreFire and is impacting travel. Multiple state, federal, and local resources on scene.
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 18, 2022
“Resources are executing a backfiring operation at this time to slow the fire spread,” read a tweet from the state’s fire account Friday night.
Multiple crews are responding as firefighters deal with erratic winds.
The #CypressFire is estimated at 100 acres. Fire is burning at the junction of 201 & the I-80. Crews continue to battle the erratic winds. Resources are executing a backfiring operation at this time to slow the fire spread. #kmyffsl
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 18, 2022
Our original story follows below.
TOOELE COUNTY, Utah — Crews responded to two new fires Friday, one of which closed part of Interstate 80 and was threatening power lines in the area.
The Lakeshore Fire was reported Friday afternoon near milepost 100 on I-80. Eastbound lanes were closed for a time while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. They temporarily reopened, only to close again when the flames reignited.
State Route 201 also closed Friday night in the westbound direction.
Fire affecting roadway
WB SR 201 Closed at MP 3 (SR-202) Salt Lake Co.
Expect Delay
For updates: https://t.co/jaVMw7vcLm— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) June 18, 2022
As of 10 p.m., both directions of I-80 have reopened.
Additional photos … pic.twitter.com/vbhHSwoWd2
— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) June 17, 2022
“When we showed up on scene, we were seeing flames 10 to 20 feet high,” said Jon Smith with the North Tooele Fire District. “What I saw was two to three acres and that was just one single spot fire and it was just being spread by the wind.”
State fire officials estimated the Lakeshore Fire, which combined with the nearby Lone Fire Friday afternoon, had burned 400 acres and 40 powerlines, and was approximately 80% contained as of 7:41 p.m.
“No structures are threatened at this time,” read a tweet Friday night from state fire officials.
#LakeshoreFire is estimated at 400 acres and approximately 80% contained. I-80 and SR 201 are open. No structures are threatened at this time.
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 18, 2022
Crews on the ground telling us two fires have become one big fire. Crews had one burning on the south side of I-80 on the Tooele side, then this fire on the north side of I-80. We’re trying to nail down accurate info but it’s a lot of moving pieces and crews right now. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/xx3FGS5t0d
— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) June 17, 2022
According to Hanna Lenkowski, spokesperson for the West Desert District of BLM, powerlines through the fire area have been shut off, the Union Pacific Railroad has been shutdown, and I-80 and SR-201 are being impacted with temporary closures.
The Great Salt Lake State Park has also closed, according to state park officials, due to the fire and a loss of power at the visitors center.
NOTICE: Great Salt Lake State Park & Marina is TEMPORARILY CLOSED due to a nearby fire and power outage.
More information will be posted as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/2gX3tOG6Du
— Utah Division of State Parks (@UtahStateParks) June 17, 2022
Multiple agencies are responding, including North Tooele Fire District; Grantsville; Unified Fire Authority; Salt Lake City; West Valley City; BLM; Utah Forestry, Fire, State Lands; and Syracuse.
According to state fire officials, all aircraft has been grounded due to the erratic winds.
“When you get wind and fire combined like this, fire can travel at 15 miles an hour, and you can’t outrun that. We just work really hard, keeping up and getting in front of it and putting it out the best we can,” Smith said.
Due to the erratic winds, aircraft have been grounded & are unable to fly. Fire crews on both the #BarneyWashFire & #LakeshoreFire are continuing fire suppression efforts. #kmyffsl
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 17, 2022
Around 7:15 p.m., the flames reignited, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air.
No cause for the fire has been released, but crews said high winds were driving the fire.
“The biggest concern right now is the wind, the dry air, and the fact that it’s Friday afternoon and we still have a whole lot of weekend in front of us, a whole lot of hot temperatures, and a whole lot of people hitting the highways and byways,” Smith said.
Officials are reminding the public that Utah is in a red flag warning through the weekend, and all efforts to prevent wildfires should be taken.
In addition to the fire prevention orders on the state’s fire website, you should:
- Fully extinguish campfires and avoid building fires when winds are 15 mph or higher
- Avoid target shooting in hot, dry, and windy conditions
- Choose a target shooting backstop free of rocks and dry grass – any bullet hitting rocks can create a spark
- Avoid cutting, welding or grinding of metal in areas of dry vegetation
- Keep trailer chains lifted above the ground – dragging chains can create sparks
- Avoid parking a hot vehicle over dry grass
- Maintain tires, wheels and bearing on trailers to prevent mechanical failure
- Check off-highway vehicle exhaust system yearly to ensure the spark arrester is mounted securely and is qualified
- Fully extinguish and properly dispose of cigarettes
Lakeshore Fire UPDATE from BLM:
•400 acres
•approx 80% contained
•Resources include 2 handcrews, 2 squads, 11 engines, 2 water tenders
•I-80 & SR 201 open
•No structures threatened
•Approx 40 power poles burned
•Quarter mile of railroad track damaged @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/BO67Jf6FIA— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) June 18, 2022
The Lakeshore Fire was one of several fires that started across Utah on Friday, as a brush fire temporarily closed both directions of Legacy Parkway in Centerville.
Hey friends, please be careful out there. It’s impossible to overstate the fire danger right now with this heat and wind. We already have multiple starts today. Please take extra precautions this weekend. Check your chains/target shooting/fires/cigarettes. You know the drill!
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) June 17, 2022
Barney Wash Fire
Unified Fire Authority crews have responded to a fire near the Copperton Mine.
The Barney Wash Fire is being driven by winds and state fire officials estimated it had burned 40 acres as of 1:40 p.m.
Authorities said crews have constructed a dozer line to help with firefighting efforts.
New 🔥 Start: #BarneyWashFire is located in Salt Lake Co. near the Copperton Mine. Est. 40 acres. Fire is wind-driven. Crews have constructed a dozer line to help firefighting efforts. #kmyffsl
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 17, 2022
Oh No!!! It’s so windy…. @RioTinto @FireAuthority @KSL5TV @JeremyHarrisTV pic.twitter.com/4j5H2Hpe0S
— Renee (@kelandren3) June 17, 2022
Around 2:40 p.m. Friday, a spokesperson for Rio Tinto Kennecott released a short statement to KSL, saying:
Rio Tinto Kennecott confirms brush fires broke out near our operations earlier today. Our emergency response teams have been mobilized as well as firemen from the Unified Fire Authority and local police. There are no current threats to people and the cause of the fires remains unknown at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation until the fires are extinguished and the sites secured.
