ANTELOPE ISLAND, Utah — A wildfire that sparked at Antelope Island State Park on Tuesday is now fully contained, and the park is back open.
Just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Kelly Wickens with Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands told FOX 13 News the fire burned 59 acres.
Ground-level video gives good look at Antelope Island wildfire (@SKWAYERS):
Utah Fire Info reported the wildfire started at 1:15 p.m. and has grown to 59 acres before being fully contained. The state park will remain closed until further reevaluations tomorrow.
Video below shows wildfire burning on Antelope Island (📷: Nick Rosenbladt):
While it is still under investigation, the cause of the fire has been confirmed as human caused.
Cadence Baker works at the E-Bike shop at Antelope Island State Park.
She described what she saw Tuesday afternoon.
"Billows and billows of smoke all over the place," said Baker. "I actually heard an explosion about 30 minutes before all of the trucks started coming out and I felt it in my building as well, so I'm not truly sure what the cause is, but there was a rumble and a lot of fire everywhere."
Baker says the fire was not too far from where she works.
"Probably about 100, 200 feet," said Baker. "I actually had people from New Zealand come in and tell me they're like, so what's going on with that fire?
The wildfire impacted several people who in came in from out-of-town to enjoy the sights and sounds of the park.
"We were hoping to get out on the island and see some of the buffalo and more of the wild, but, instead we got to watch the forest firefighters working," said Nicholas Rosenbladt, who is from Seattle.
Tuesday afternoon, Wickens says much of the firefighter suppression efforts were done through the air.
"We're putting retardant lines down and holding the fire line with the retardant," said Wickens.
She says local, state, and federal agencies worked to get the fire under control.
The new fire is just the latest burning in Utah, with six other large wildfires currently receiving attention in the state.
Wickens says the park is currently under Stage 2 fire restrictions.
"Hot and dry, that has been our conditions for the last month almost, it's definitely made our fuels, our vegetation very flammable," said Wickens.
Wickens told FOX 13 News on Tuesday that the fire came within 40 feet of the park's visitors center.
Devan Chavez with Utah State Parks says the facility was evacuated.
"Thankfully because the area was undergoing construction, there were no visitors inside the visitor center," said Chavez. "It was mainly staff, there may have been some visitors around the visitor center."
While cars were seen filing out of the park, staff at the entrance were turning people around.
"I want go and spend some time here, so I honestly just might head back to Logan where I'm staying at, so kind of a bummer," said Jake Eagar, who is visiting Utah.
For those who work in the area, like Baker, she was thankful for the fire crews efforts.
"They handled it pretty quickly," said Baker.
Wickens says resources will continue to monitor the fire through the next couple of days.
As for when the park could reopen, Chavez says they would reevaluate on Wednesday.
Stay with fox13now.com and FOX 13 News for the latest on this breaking news story
