Screenshot: Utah Fire Info
(this story has been updated)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Fire Info now reports that the Goose Point Fire burning near Utah Lake is 90% contained, and has burned 8,908 acres.
At mid-day Friday, the Bureau of Land Management reported the Goose Point Fire had burned 6,515 acres and, at mid-day Friday, was 50% contained.
The fire was discovered Wednesday, August 21. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but U.S. Forest Service officials believe the fire was sparked by industrial equipment.
On Thursday, firefighters created containment lines around the base of West Mountain. Then, using fire to fight the fire, they conducted a burnout operation from the containment lines to remove grass and brush. The BLM says this effort was completed by 8 p.m. Thursday night.
The work paid off. Friday morning the BLM reported that very little fire activity and smoke were visible. Today, three hand crews were scheduled to secure the containment line. They’ll have the support of two helicopters carrying buckets of water to put out any hotspots.
The BLM says that any smoke or flames seen near the fire on Friday will be from pockets of juniper and brush burning well within the containment lines.
Fire managers anticipate a significant increase in containment today.
However, a fire prevention order still restricts target shooting, camping, and unnecessary traffic in the area surrounding the Goose Point Fire. This prevention order includes the area south of Lincoln Beach Road, west of 600 West, north of Highway 141 and east of the North Lake Road.