UTAH LAKE – Firefighters responded to a blaze that grew to 15 acres near Utah Lake Sunday, and the fire began after hot embers leftover from a bonfire were caught by the wind.
According to a press release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, crews responded to reports of a fire near the south east part of Utah Lake around noon Sunday.
Police said a group had been in the area holding a bonfire late Saturday night, and a law enforcement officer told members of that group they would need to stay with the fire until it was out and then remove the nails that were left over from the pallets being used as fuel.
Several people stayed with the fire until it was no longer burning actively, and Sunday morning two people returned to collect the leftover nails. They also scooped up ashes and embers that were still hot and put them into buckets. As they left the area, the wind caught some of the embers and blew them into nearby phragmites—which is a type of invasive plant that can become a “serious fire danger", according to the press release.
The people who had returned to collect the ashes and nails immediately called 911, and firefighters were dispatched from Utah County Fire, Springville Fire, Spanish Fork Fire and Woodland Hills Fire, according to the press release. The fire grew to about 15 acres in size, and crews were able to control and contain the fire.
There were no reports of injuries or damages to structures. The press release did not indicate whether or not the individuals who started the bonfire or who returned the next day might face citations for the incident. FOX 13 News will have further details as they become available.
