Dan Walton, Tooele Fire District
BURMESTER, Tooele County – A new wildfire has sparked on the west side of the Great Salt Lake over the weekend and has burned just under 10,000 acres.
It ignited in the Lakeside Mountains about about 3 p.m. and authorities believe it started from target shooting. Tooele County Fire Warden Dan Walton says crews had some issues initially battling the blaze due to the fire being within 5 miles of the U.S. Magnesium federal environmental Superfund site. He says crews “could not go into” that area.
For now authorities are not sure about health concerns and the blaze is currently not threatening any structures.
Crews have the blaze 50 percent contained as of Sunday night. Walton says they are hoping to have it 90 percent contained by the end of Labor Day Monday.
North Tooele Fire District is joined with Grantsville Fire Department and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in fighting the fire.