Fire officials urge caution over Fourth

OREM — A wildfire on Lake Mountain near Saratoga Springs is now considered a fire "complex" after a nearby area burst into flames Friday morning.

What used to be the Mercer Canyon fire has become the M&M complex because it will soon contain the Moffida fire, said Dan Washington, duty officer for the Bureau of Land Management.

"They're pretty close and they probably will burn together," Washington said. "We know that by the end of the day they will be tied together."

The Mercer Canyon fire, which burned nearly 5,200 acres of dry grasses, began Sunday night and was considered 100 percent contained Thursday night but is now part of the M&M complex, Washington said.

Both the Mercer Canyon fire and the Moffida fire were caused by humans.

"The majority of our fires have been human-caused and that's why the restrictions went in," Washington said. "But since the restrictions we've still had as many or more fires than we had before the restrictions."

Fireworks, open fires in all but approved fire pits in improved campgrounds and picnic areas and outdoor smoking except in developed recreation sites have been banned on all lands west of I-15 throughout Utah and in all of Washington County since June 25.

Public carelessness is the main concern of firefighters and officials as they look toward the Fourth of July holiday. With the high temperatures, strong winds and bone-dry cheat grass — the main fuel source of fires — a stray sparkler or wayward firework could ignite an entire mountainside.

"Please, please be extremely cautious with fire on the benches and foothills," said Dave Palazzolo, fire information officer. "We're really worried it's going to be a busy, busy weekend and there are only so many resources we can draw from."

The resources have been stretched thin on the numerous fires.

Friday morning, 160 ground crew members attacked the PG fire, which began Thursday afternoon on Provo's East Bench.

The fire was mainly on county land near Provo Canyon in a 250- to 300-acre area, Palazzolo said.

It was 60 percent contained by 6 p.m. Friday, thanks to Friday's containment work, which included dropping water and slurry from a plane and line digging, Palazzolo said. Firefighters had expected the fire to be contained by late Friday night.