A big plume of smoke rose above the Snyderville Basin Tuesday morning.
Park City Deputy Fire Chief Bob Zanetti said the brush fire started around 11 o’clock near the middle of the Old Ranch Road community close to 5200 North and 300 West on an access street named Old Meadows Lane.
“Basically right in the middle there surrounded by some horse pastures with some tall super dry grass and a bunch of large homes around it,” Zanetti said. “It was a quick moving fire we were able to get some resources on it really quick. And really fortunate no wind today and cooler temperatures, so we were able to get a handle on it in about 20 minutes. Got a nice knock down on it.”
Zanetti said some workers' equipment sparked the fire.
“We had some construction workers putting in some pasture fence – I’m not sure if they were welding or using a cutting torch,” he said. “But they tried to get it out. They had an extinguisher on the truck but the grass was three of four feet tall and it just ran on them really quick.”
The flames got about 300 feet from a home, with 15-20 horses right behind it
“They were corralled in there but they were very anxious when we arrived,” he said. “So it was good that they didn’t get out or anything, that they were able to keep away from the smoke and obviously agitated from what was going on but it kind of pushed away from them actually and where the horses were was pretty matted down, so.”
The property owner was there, and Zanetti said she had her hands full. He added that firefighters were lucky that there was a water source and hydrants nearby to help put out the flames. He added that even though it’s November and most fire restrictions are no longer in effect, conditions are still dry and dangerous and people need to be careful.