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PARK VALLEY, Box Elder County — A new wildfire that broke out in northwest Utah Friday afternoon is now 55% contained, while 12 structures that were initially threatened are now safe, state firefighters say.
About 4:30 p.m., Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands officials reported that firefighters were responding to what they've dubbed the Dove Creek Fire. The agency provided an update Friday night, saying it has now burned nearly 600 acres, but "favorable weather conditions" allowed firefighters to protect the threatened structures in the area.
Some evacuations were initially ordered, but Box Elder Fire Marshal Kevin Lloyd said he believed there may not be anyone who needed to be evacuated in the remote area of the state. Ground and air firefighting resources responded to the scene as the fire quickly spread.
It wasn't immediately clear what started the blaze, but thunderstorms were in the area Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a series of warnings and special weather statements over thunderstorms battering Box Elder, Cache and Tooele counties.
The portion of northwest Utah is listed as having above-average fire risk, according to the Great Basin Coordination Center.
The Dove Creek Fire is located just northeast of the Warm Springs Fire, which ignited on Thursday. State firefighters said a "lightning holdover" sparked the fire, which was quickly contained at about 20 acres before structures in the area burned.
Contributing: Jessica Lowell
