A fire that started Saturday afternoon near the border between Tooele and Juab counties and swelled to 2,300 acres in a few hours stalled in the evening as up to 50 mph wind gusts died out.
Smoke from the fire flowed into Summit and Wasatch counties in the afternoon and evening Saturday.
Residents who had been evacuated between Vernon and Eureka were allowed back to their homes and S.R. 36 reopened at 1 p.m. Sunday. Fire officials said zero percent of the fire had been contained.
The Boulter Fire started around the same time, 1:30 p.m., as an up to 2-acre fire in Silver Creek Estates was knocked down in under an hour despite gusting winds by Park City Fire District crews. That fire, which didn’t damage any structures, is being mopped up while the one near Tooele has exploded.
The Boulter Fire began off Highway 36 near the Tooele County-Juab County border. Heavy, gusty winds pushed the fast-growing fire in grass and brush to 2,300 acres by 5:30 p.m., according to Utah Fire Info.
“A wind shift from the west is now pushing the #BoulterFire into the Tintic Mountain Range north of Eureka,” Utah Fire Info reported around 5:30. S.R. 36 is closed in both directions. The Northern Utah Type 3 incident management team has been ordered.
Residences were evacuated between Vernon and Eureka, and the highway closed. Multiple ground resources are fighting the fire and more have been ordered, according to Utah Fire Info.
“Bulldozers are being utilized to build the fire line,” according to Utah Fire Info, which said the fire is six to eight miles from 5 Mile Pass and “is moving quickly. Federal, state & local resources on scene.”
“Fire behavior has lessened due to higher humidity and winds not currently blowing 50 mph. Fire has not crossed Faust cut-off road at this time,” Utah Fire Info reported around 10 p.m. “Fire will be monitored tonight. The Type 3 team will be in — briefed at noon (Sunday).”
