BEAVER, Utah — A wildfire near Beaver burning since June 13 scorched more than 5,000 acres and was "very active" as weather conditions made for firefighting challenges early on.
As of the latest update on July 12, the fire had scorched 5,367 acres and had reached 60% containment.
The "Little Twist" fire is located four miles southeast of Beaver in steep, rugged, remote terrain.
Officials said the fire started as a prescribed burn in the area, but weather conditions allowed the flames to go beyond their intended limits for the year.
On June 13, the fire was reclassified as a wildfire in order to make use of additional resources and teams to help extinguish the flames.
Due to strong, gusty winds early on, the fire stayed "very active," making for challenging firefighting circumstances.
More than 250 personnel have been assigned to assist with firefighting efforts.
Officials said smoke will continue to be visible for "several weeks" from I-15, I-70, Highway 89 and Highway 20.
Little Reservoir, Tushar Lakeside and Kents Lake Campgrounds remain open to the public as firefighting efforts continue.
The National Weather Service warned of "critical fire and weather conditions," meaning high winds and low humidity in portions of southwestern and south-central Utah.
Recreators should be especially cautious with campfires, avoid activities that create sparks and follow local fire restrictions due to the enhanced danger.
