Thousands evacuate after shooting sparks Utah fire

[Rivet]

Thousands evacuate after shooting sparks Utah fire

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (AP) — Thousands of residents whose homes were in danger of being threatened by a Utah wildfire have had to find shelter elsewhere as strong winds fueled a blaze that officials believe was started by target shooters.
Residents of at least 2,300 homes in northern Utah were evacuated Friday, a day after the more than 6-square-mile fire started near the

Saratoga Springs landfill, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. High winds then helped fan the flames onto tinder-dry grasslands.
Authorities were initially worried as flames moved toward property owned by an explosives company, but the focus turned to saving homes as winds kicked up and the fire moved toward Saratoga Springs.
Forecasters expect strong winds to persist through the weekend.

On Friday, fire officials were calling in additional aircraft and extra ground crews.

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[Jessi]

Ugh. So they think it started from target shooters? Does that mean at a range or just people who were out on their own, shooting for the fun of it? It's awful that so many are put at risk now.

[lrlady66]

Wow, who would have thought! Well it just goes to show that we have to be aware of all the possible causes for fire and be prepared!  There have been many fires in Utah and Colorado this year due to natural causes as well as started by people.  Many have lost homes that burned to the ground this last two weeks  and it is a shame!

[TeacherSmurf]

When I was driving along the northern Oregon coast one year during summer, I saw a tourist throw a lit cigarette out the window.   Luckily it didn't catch, but the plants out here are so used to rain that during the summer they dry out very quickly.