Photo: Todd Phillips
(This story has been updated.)
PAYSON, Utah — The Goose Point Fire burning on West Mountain in Utah County has grown to 6,500 acres, but is now 60% contained.
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands spokesman Jason Curry says the fire that began Wednesday afternoon was initially reported as being between 75-100 acres burned actively overnight.
Curry says this area in Utah County can be more susceptible to fire because of the abundance of “flashy fuel” that’s present. That fuel feeds the fire and helps it grow.
“It’s a location where there’s an abundance of grass, and fire moves aggressively through that fuel,” he told Utah’s Morning News.
An especially wet winter and spring, followed by a warm summer, meant the grass is now thick and dry which aided in the growth of this fire, he says.
Curry says there are plenty of resources on the scene and they have plans in place to fight any challenges that will come about today.
“The good news is we’ve put in some really good fuel breaks using heavy equipment between the fire and about 25 homes on the bench,” he says.
This story has been updated.)
