Fire burning in Salt Lake City foothills now 82% contained, cause ‘undetermined’

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — The wildfire that sparked over the weekend in the foothills of Salt Lake City is now 82% contained, Utah fire officials said Tuesday.

The Sandhurst Fire was sparked Saturday and burned in the cheatgrass and shrubs near Ensign Peak. Nearby homes were evacuated as crews dropped fire retardant on the burning hillside.

Evacuation orders have since been lifted, although traffic in the area near the fire is still restricted to residents only. Over the last few days of hot and windy weather, the fire hasn’t grown, remaining around 204 acres, officials said.

Fire’s cause still unknown

The cause of the fire is listed as “undetermined.” Earlier, the fire was reported to be human-caused, but Utah Fire Info said that after a thorough investigation “no conclusive evidence was found.”

The Salt Lake City Fire Department, which has worked to find the cause of the fire, said that its confident fire was not related to fireworks, unattended campfires or homeless encampments.

“We understand the concern and curiosity surrounding the cause of this fire, and we are dedicated to providing transparent and timely updates,” police said, in a statement. “While the fire scene is still active and the investigation is ongoing, we will continue to keep the public informed as new information becomes available.”

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