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Fire crews investigating what sparked camper fire in Little Cottonwood Canyon

Posted at 8:19 PM, Jun 09, 2015
and last updated 2015-06-10 14:14:41-04

SANDY, Utah - Authorities are investigating what sparked a camper fire at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon Tuesday night.Little Cottonwood Canyon fire smoke 1

Smoke could be seen from miles away from the blaze crews were called to at about 6 p.m.

Firefighters from several agencies were called in to help contain the flames.

The fire was burning on private property just up the hill from Wasatch Blvd. and Little Cottonwood Rd.

Officials said a shed also caught fire but crews were able to keep it from burning up the mountainside and threatening nearby homes.

Below is a view of the private property before the fire from Google Maps. 

Fire officials say a camper was damaged in the fire but no injuries were reported. Little Cottonwood Canyon fire smoke 3

Firefighters said they had a rough time reaching the fire because the property is at the end of a steep dirt road.

Authorities said the owner has a fair amount of salvaged items stored on his property as well as a few 55-gallon drums of oil and gas, which also complicated their efforts.

Crews were able to contain the flames before they reached the fuel.

“There was obviously a concern about wildland interface and the potential for this to go up the mountain,” Sandy Fire Deputy Cheif Derek Maxfield said. “Fortunately this time of year the fuels haven't dried out to the point that they went easily, but that became a priority to prevent that from happening. The crews were able to contain the fire to that involved camper as well as a shed, there was no damage to the home.”