Forest service adds fire restrictions as Summit County Beulah Fire grows

Fire restrictions are in place for almost all of the state days after the Beulah Fire sparked in Summit County.

The U.S. Forest Service reported Saturday the Beulah Fire has grown to over 1,700 acres and is 0% contained. The blaze in the Uinta Mountains is located about 7.5 miles southeast of the Bear River Ranger Station on Mirror Lake Highway.

Three helicopters, two "scooper" planes and over 180 people worked to contain the blaze Saturday in "full suppression activities."

Firefighters are clearing vegetation, setting up sprinkler systems, and scouting routes for potential containment lines.

A complex incident management team, Great Basin Team 4, will take command of the fire Aug. 11, the Forest Service said.

Toby Weed, the spokesperson for the Northern Utah Interagency Incident Management Team, said Friday the fire was not threatening structures yet but that it could if the fire grew. The Hinckley Boy Scout camp is about 2.5 miles away.

The Summit County Sheriff’s Department closed roads Thursday and evacuated people from Christmas Meadows, the east fork of the Bear River, Mill Creek and the west fork of the Blacks Fork area.

Recreators are asked to avoid the area to allow crews to safely fight the fire.

The Beulah Fire comes amid red flag warnings for more than half the state with no rain in the forecast and gusty winds which were expected to increase fire activity.

Stage 2 fire restrictions have been in effect across Utah, banning open fires on unincorporated land and some national forests.

However, no restrictions were in place for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest when the fire started Aug. 7.

The forest service has since placed the area under lower Stage 1 restrictions. The order restricts open flames, smoking and welding and prohibits fireworks.

Violating the fire restrictions is punishable by up to six months in jail and fines from $1,000 to $10,000.