FORT DUCHESNE, Uintah County — A human-caused brush fire left at least one firefighter injured during response efforts.
What's being referred to as the East Ute Plaza fire sparked Tuesday about 4 p.m., about a quarter mile east of Fort Duchesne near the intersection of U.S. 40 and 7500 East, the Uintah Fire District said.
The fire prompted responses from local, state and federal agencies.
A firefighter was injured as crews were suppressing the blaze and received immediate first aid, the fire district said Wednesday. The firefighter was then transported to a burn center for additional treatment.
"Our thoughts are with the injured firefighter and their family," fire officials said in a statement.
The fire burned about 20 acres, and an initial evacuation warning was issued as a precautionary measure, said Jordan Nesbitt, public information officer with the Uintah Basin Fire Center. Fire crews were able to protect nearby homes and get around the fire, which was running south through heavy brush and cottonwoods.
U.S. 40 was closed for a time on Tuesday as the fire was burning near the highway, reducing visibility due to the wind.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire was 60% contained.
The Uintah Fire District said the blaze was human-caused, but an investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the fire.
