A wildfire that ignited in the foothills east of Mapleton, Utah, has been successfully stalled after burning nearly 50 acres, said officials from the Mapleton Police Department. The fire, which blazed through grass and brush after starting at roughly 10:45 p.m. Friday, witnessed a collaborative effort from fire crews across more than 15 agencies, including units from the nearby Buckley Draw Fire in Provo. Despite the aggressive spread, by Saturday evening, the fire was reported to be 30% contained.
In an update on their efforts, officials were quoted as saying, "Unbelievable work was done throughout the night by many different fire agencies. They made fantastic progress and we are happy to report that forward progression of the fire has been stopped," as reported by KUTV. The fire covered a total of 47 acres, and despite initial threats to nearby homes to the south of the fire, officials confirmed that the blaze had moved away from residential areas before it was halted.
Mapleton Police have determined that the incident was human-caused and have identified juveniles as being responsible for starting the fire, though specific details have not been disclosed. "Mapleton police officers have identified how the fire started and the juvenile(s) that are responsible," Mapleton Police stated in ABC4. The ongoing investigation has meant that further information is currently withheld from the public.
As firefighting crews continue to work on controlling the blaze, Mapleton Police have requested that the public keep their vehicles away from the area to ensure emergency responders can access the site unhindered. "We need residents to stay clear and let responding units move freely without traffic obstructions," the police articulated in a social media update obtained by Gephardt Daily. They also issued warnings about the use of drones in the vicinity, as they could interfere with essential aerial firefighting operations, which were slated to commence at daylight.
