Major fire affects Uintah and Ouray Reservation

A fire in Utah prompted some evacuations on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation and caused at least three deaths nearby.

The North Neola Fire started Friday on land managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. So far it has burned more than 30,000 acres between Neola, a town off the reservation, and Whiterocks, a community on the reservation.

According to The Deseret Morning News, two men offered to put out the fire when it started but were stopped by a tribal member. The blaze grew quickly and killed three men.

Some tribal members in Whiterocks were told to evacuate but were allowed to return to their homes. The Ute Tribe is housing some of the 500 people who have been displaced by the fire.

An estimated 400 firefighters, including BIA crews, are batting the blaze. Only 5 percent was contained as of Sunday.

Get the Story:
30,500 acres burned (The Deseret Morning News 7/2)
'Possessed' fire picks out houses (The Salt Lake Tribune 7/2)
11-year-old flees wildfire; father, grandfather killed (The Salt Lake Tribune 7/1)
Fires burn nearly 9,000 acres in two days (The Salt Lake Tribune 7/1)
Killer Utah fire still raging (The Deseret Morning News 7/1)