Rockport fire contained
A brush fire near the Rockport Estates was contained two days after it ignited by a private citizen conducting work on a yurt close to the Rockport Reservoir.
The fire, which consumed 120 acres, was reported 100-percent contained as of 2:43 p.m. Sunday, according to Tyler Rowser of the North Summit Fire District.
One structure, where the fire is believed to have originated, was destroyed but no other homes were damaged.
The fire is being investigated by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the state fire marshal, and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, said Jason Curry, public information officer for the latter. Fire crews from the county fire warden’s office and North Summit Fire crews will be monitoring the area this week to detect any flare-ups, Rowser said.
According to Rowser, the blaze started in a yurt and quickly spread to surrounding grasses and sagebrush. Approximately 220 homes were evacuated as a precaution Friday. Residents returned to their homes late Friday evening and State Road 32 along Rockport Reservoir was reopened.
State Road 32 had been closed between Interstate 80 and Brown’s Canyon Road most of Friday while aircraft dropped water and retardant on the flames.
Friday afternoon, county officials issued a Local Emergency Proclamation in order to receive state assistance. In a scene reminiscent of the fire in the same area last August, air tankers dropped buckets of water and retardant on the flames.
The fire erupted at about 2 p.m. Friday resulting in the Summit County Sheriff’s Office requesting evacuations through a reverse 911 system.
As of 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, residents of Sage Lane in Rockport Estates were under a mandatory evacuation order, surrounding residents were asked to evacuate voluntarily. Sheriff’s deputies were on hand to rescue children if the need arose, said Captain Justin Martinez.
The Park City Fire District, North Summit Fire District, South Summit Fire District and U.S. Forest Service firefighters responded to the fire, said Rowser.
Rockport Estates is a community south of Wanship located on the west side of Rockport Reservoir.
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