The Stookey Fire in Tooele County has expanded to an estimated 9,500 acres as winds fueled the blaze northwards. Discovered on Friday afternoon, the fire has burned thousands of acres east of Vernon.
Communities located on the east side of the fire are currently under READY evacuation status, indicating residents should prepare for possible evacuations if the fire approaches.
The fire has caused road closures including Sharp Road and Pony Express Road at State Route 36, according to Utah Fire Info officials.
Officials stated that limited accessibility is continuing to challenge firefighting efforts. However, ground crews are actively working to secure containment lines along the west ridgeline. Both ground and air crews are expected to be active throughout the day following overnight work by crews.
The Stookey Fire was determined to be human-caused. The fire was discovered north of the area where the Iron and Cherry Fires burned over 76,000 acres before being contained.
