Officials determined that a grass fire burning near Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City was caused by human activity, according to the Salt Lake City Fire Department following a blaze that prompted voluntary evacuations on Wednesday afternoon.
Cause of Ensign Peak fire
The Salt Lake City Fire Department reported the fire began just after 1:15 p.m. at 1135 N. Twickenham Drive, according to KSLTV reporting. Salt Lake City Fire Capt. Chad Jepperson said the fire was encroaching on some properties in the area, including homes, though no buildings caught fire.
Fire containment and road closures
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire had burned between 13 and 25 acres and reached 50% containment. Nearly 50 city firefighters were dispatched to the scene, working alongside state wildland crews, helicopters dropping water, and planes dropping fire retardant. While voluntary evacuations have been lifted, Victory Road, Columbus Street, and Dorchester Drive remain closed due to firefighting activity.
Recent regional fire activity
The Ensign Peak fire occurred during a period of increased fire activity across the state. KSLTV reported that brush fires had burned in Saratoga Springs, American Fork, and Tooele within the previous week. The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for much of the Wasatch Front due to strong winds and low humidity.
SLC Pride Parade recap
Earlier in the week, the Salt Lake City Fire Department participated in the annual Pride Parade held on Sunday, June 7. The parade featured over 120 local organizations and community groups marching through downtown Salt Lake City to support the LGBTQ+ community, according to The Daily Utah Chronicle.
