A fire near Mirror Lake Highway had firefighters scrambling and campers and hikers evacuating an area near Norway Flat Saturday afternoon.
The Shingle Creek Fire started near mile marker 11 around 2:30pm on the north side of the highway.
According to the South Summit Fire District, "strong work and a very quick and aggressive attack" kept the fire from "becoming a huge thing." Six crews from the SSFD responded, along with two heavy air tankers and three helicopters. Summit County Sheriff deputies and search and rescue teams alerted campers and hikers and helped them leave the area.
Firefighters say the fire was human-caused and an investigation is underway. Pictures from the scene show a burned-out car in the middle of a scorched landscape.
The fire was initially reported to be 20-30 acres in heavy timber. By mid Sunday morning, it was 5% contained. Fire crews plan to continue to secure the firelines and extinguish hotspots. Norway Flat Road is closed while the work continues.
Because of the hot, dry conditions, fire restrictions are in place for all unincorporated areas of Summit and Wasatch counties. No fires are allowed on public lands unless they are in a permanently constructed fire ring in a developed recreation side like a campground or a picnic area.
Firefighters are especially concerned about the bow hunt that started this weekend. They want to make sure hunters get the word that open fires are not allowed in the backcountry.