OGDEN — A new fire started in Ogden early Saturday morning, hours before Utah would officially enter its first Extreme Heat Warning of the year.
According to Utah Fire Watch, the Mountain Road fire, which started at approximately 12:49 a.m., closed the East Bench Trail from 1900 North in North Ogden south to 425 North in Ogden.
The fire was estimated at 18.1 acres on Saturday morning, though Utah Fire Info said crews would remain in the area throughout the day to strengthen containment lines and extinguish any remaining hot spots.
The fire comes shortly before large portions of Utah enter into the state's first Extreme Heat Warning of the year from noon Saturday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The National Weather Service issued warnings for multiple cities across Utah, including Snowville, Park Valley, Brigham City, Logan, Smithfield, Price, Bountiful, Duchesne, Roosevelt, Green River, Emery, Goblin Valley, Castle Dale, Nephi, Scipio, Huntsville, Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan, Mt. Pleasant, Manti, Ephraim, Richfield, Salina, Park City, Grantsville, Wendover, Dugway, Vernon, Tooele, Lehi, Provo, Payson, Heber City, Ogden and Fillmore.
Highs of up to 107 degrees are possible this weekend across the Wasatch Front and Cache Valley, while highs of up to 100 are possible for the mountain valleys of northern and central Utah, including the Wasatch Back, along Castle Country, the Uinta Basin and the San Rafael Swell.
The National Weather Service encouraged those under an Extreme Heat Warning to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun and to check on relatives and neighbors.
"Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles," the agency warned. "Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes."
The agency also encouraged people to wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when outside, and to limit strenuous activities to the early morning or evening, when temperatures begin to moderate. However, the agency said the low temperatures would likely stay in the mid to low 70s and "provide little in the way of overnight relief."
