By Nate Bertasso and Kelly Roy King
nathanb@newsroom.byu.edu
A brushfire broke out east of the Eagle View neighborhood, located between Provo and Springville on Highway 89, at about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 28.
Firefighters from the Provo Fire Department, National Forest Service and Flame N' Go responded quickly to the scene and contained the fire at 4:30 p.m., said National Forest Service spokesperson Shawn Nelson.
A National Forest Service helicopter equipped with a 150 gallon bambi-bucket assisted in extinguishing the fire, said Jim Guynn, fire Provo Fire Department investigator.
Nelson said fire investigators have determined the fire was human related, but there was not enough evidence left at the ignition point to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Ben Zeyer of Provo and co-worker Dan Karren of Delta said they returned from lunch to their construction site and found the camp-fire sized flames on the hill-side.
Zeyer and Karren said they saw a full-size, teal-green GMC truck speeding past the fire.
They reported the fire to a neighbor, who then called the fire department.
The fire was shooting 12 to 15 foot flames in the air at its worst, Karren said.
Nelson said no structures were in danger at any time.
The fire scorched 4.5 acres of the hillside, Nelson said.
Residents said the fire started unexpectedly.
'It literally was not there, then it was there,' said Sunny Merrill, Eagle View resident.
Flame N' Go firefighters spent Wednesday evening cleaning up and eliminating hot spots, Nelson said.
'The Eagle View Fire underscores the importance of fire danger and being aware of that danger,' Nelson said.
Conditions are as dry this year as they were late in the summer of 1996, which was the worst fire season ever, said Dave Dalrymple, Utah Forestry Division fire management coordinator.
Fire restrictions issued on June 3 and June 21 constitute a statewide fire restriction, Dalrymple said.
The restriction prohibits any fires outside of designated and developed campsites and facilities, he said.
Propane stoves outside of developed campsites are OK but people should avoid using solid fuels such as wood and charcoal, Dalrymple said.
On federal, state and private lands, smoking is prohibited except in vehicles, boats, developed recreation sites, residences or in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable materials, Dalrymple said.
The statewide fire restriction remains in effect until it is rescinded.
Persons charged and convicted of starting fires by not complying with the restriction would be faced with the cost of damage and response to the fire, Dalrympl said. Costs can run up to and possibly exceed $500,000.
Dalrymple said fireworks should never be discharged on or around federal, state and private lands.
A list of legal fireworks and fireworks restrictions for the July holidays is available on the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office Web site, www.fm.state.ut.us/.