Officials Work to Stifle Francis Fire in Northern Utah

Utah firefighters dumped retardant and water on a blaze in Davis County that grew to about 550 acres by Tuesday, September 17, local media reported.

The Francis Fire initially consumed 50 acres on Monday and was “growing rapidly,” the Utah Fire Department said. It grew to more than 550 acres with zero containment by Tuesday afternoon, local media said. The fire was burning along a mountain range near the city of Fruit Heights.

Multiple areas were placed under mandatory evacuation on Monday, but the order was lifted later that night, the Davis County Sheriff’s Office said.

Residents were urged to stay aware of the fire in case of future evacuations.

Officials told local media the fire was not projected to expand on Tuesday, due to wind patterns, rain overnight, and the efforts of firefighters on Monday.

This footage from Monday show planes dropping fire retardant on the site of the Francis Fire. Credit: Utah Fire Info via Storyful