By Daryl Lindsey and Jeremy Harris Sunday, July 24th 2016
Woman, child injured after UTV crash sparks American Fork Canyon wildfire (Photo: Jeremy Harris/KUTV)
(KUTV) - Wildland fire crews are working to contain a blaze in Utah County that sparked after an 'Ultra-terrain Vehicle' caught fire in American Fork Canyon Sunday afternoon.
The 'U-T-V', similar to an A-T-V but seats four passengers, burst into flames along a trail in the Major Evans Gulch area around noon.
Three people were injured in the UTV fire and were transported to American Fork Hospital. A 6-year-old child was transported to the University of Utah Hospital burn unit with serious second-degree burns.
The flames from the U-T-V fire quickly spread to the brush near the trail. The fire went up the hillside and expanded to burn at least a few dozen acres.
Fire officials were going through the area evacuating campgrounds near where the blaze is burning.
Lone Peak Fire Battalion Chief Joeseph McRae said the victims of the crash reported that the vehicle simply burst into flames and there was no crash before the fire started. Officials have not determined why the vehicle caught fire.
Fire crews closed roads near Tibble Fork Reservoir, but all other areas of the canyon were open as usual.