‘Human-Caused’ Alaska Fire Continues To Burn In Utah County
Jul 31, 2019, 5:23 AM | Updated: 2:40 pm
PROVO, Utah – The wildfire burning on the mountainside between Provo and Springville has grown to over 400 acres. Investigators said they believed the fire was human-caused.
The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30 in an area just up the mountain from Alaska Avenue in the Buckley Draw area. It was near the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
Officials said the blaze quickly grew to 30 to 40 acres, not far from where the Round Peak Fire recently burned.
“I saw this just big fire and it looked like it was in the area of my house so it was kind of scary,” said resident Hanna Reynolds.
Video of the #AlaskaFire details in a few minutes on #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/ndTgx4L5RX
— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) July 31, 2019
At 1 p.m. Wednesday the fire was 450 + acres and 10 percent contained.
#alaskafire is 450 acres and is 10% contained. 100+ firefighters on scene from all agencies. pic.twitter.com/mV2jXWmHAy
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) July 31, 2019
Fire officials said the flames were burning uphill and away from nearby homes.
“Fortunately, we’ve got a really good fire break in the Bonneville Shoreline Trail,” said Chief Jim Miguel with theProvo Fire Department. “All of the homes are significantly below that trail.”
Officials with the Unita-Wasatch-Cache National Forest said crews were building a fire line around the burning area to contain the blaze. Aerial support was called in to drop fire retardant as needed.
#alaskafire now at 400 acres but still burning uphill away from homes according to @UWCNF watch @KSL5TV for updates all morning pic.twitter.com/0tA1Fko5Me
— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaNews) July 31, 2019
KSL TV meteorologist Grant Weyman said the fire would be potentially helped or hurt by weather conditions throughout the day. The Provo area was looking at a 40 percent chance of rain beginning around 3 p.m. However, thunderstorms were also predicted.
Weyman said the rain could help with fire suppression, but thunderstorms could be accompanied by lightning, that could ignite additional fires.
Warm temperatures have been forecasted to stay constant throughout the day, with rain expected to start in the early afternoon.
Chopper 5 Aerials Over Alaska Fire In Utah County
Raw aerial video from Chopper 5 over the Alaska Fire on the mountainside between Provo and Springville.
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Wednesday, July 31, 2019
No evacuations were ordered yet. Multiple agencies and resources were being utilized.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, though officials said it was likely human caused.
“Since there was no lightning detected in this area, then at that point it’s a process of elimination,” said Jason Curry with the US Forest Service. “We know it wasn’t lightening, so therefor there’s only two things it could be – lightning or humans.”
