Residents and visitors near the University of Utah are waking up to an alarming sight, as a brush fire has ignited in Dry Creek Canyon, just a short distance from the university's campus. As reported by ABC4, the Salt Lake City Fire Department received a distress call shortly before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, indicating that the fire had engulfed approximately 10 acres and had not yet been contained.
While the early morning blaze continues to challenge firefighting efforts, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Fire Department confirmed that helicopters are making their way to the scene to aid the firefighters already braving the flames on the ground. The intensity of the response has escalated as multiple air and ground resources have been deployed, including assistance from the Utah Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.
Due to the hazardous conditions, The Salt Lake Tribune states that Salt Lake Fire is urging the public to keep their distance from the area, which encompasses popular trails behind the City Creek stream, Dry Creek, and the Avenues. The authorities are also pleading with residents to refrain from flying drones in the vicinity, likely to prevent interference with aerial firefighting operations.
According to KUTV, the fire sparked in Dry Creek, about two miles into the canyon northeast of the campus. Though the flames have spread to cover 10 to 20 acres, fire officials have stated that there are no structures currently threatened by the inferno. As the cause of the fire remains a mystery, state firefighters have assumed command and are tirelessly working to contain the blaze.
