Ogden Fire Today: Live Updates as Fast-Moving Blaze Forces Ogden Canyon Evacuations and Road Closures

Acrid columns of black smoke towered over Ogden, Utah, Tuesday afternoon after a fast-moving blaze ignited in a Union Pacific rail yard just west of I-15 near the historic Ogden Stockyards district. First responders closed surrounding frontage roads as flames chewed through piles of creosote-soaked railroad ties and scrap lumber stored beside the Ogden Mill. The heavy fuel load produced dense, oily smoke that was visible for more than 20 miles along the Wasatch Front, prompting a surge of 911 calls from Weber and Davis counties. Transit impacts and health warnings • Utah Transit Authority (UTA) instituted an emergency bus bridge between Ogden Central Station and Roy Station on the FrontRunner commuter-rail line, warning riders to expect 10- to 20-minute delays until crews deem the corridor safe. • Ogden Fire Department urged residents with respiratory conditions to remain indoors and set HVAC systems to “recirculate” because particulate levels spiked into the “unhealthy” range within minutes of ignition. • No residential evacuations had been ordered by early afternoon, but officials asked drivers to avoid Washington Boulevard and 24th Street exits to keep lanes clear for tankers and ladder trucks. What is burning? Preliminary reports indicate the fire started in a stack of railroad crossties awaiting disposal. Investigators are interviewing yard employees and reviewing surveillance footage to determine whether a malfunctioning maintenance vehicle or discarded cigarette sparked the blaze. The wooden ties, impregnated with creosote, burn at high temperatures and can flare unpredictably, complicating containment efforts, according to Battalion Chief Mike Slater. Crews battle two fronts in Weber County Tuesday’s rail-yard inferno arrives less than two weeks after the Willard Peak Fire erupted on the mountainside above North Ogden, forcing 150 homes to evacuate and scorching roughly 756 acres of pinyon-juniper and scrub oak. That wildfire—ignited by a vehicle fire along 1050 East on August 13—remains 0 % contained as of the latest incident-management update, although visible flame activity has diminished thanks to aggressive bucket drops from two Type-1 helicopters. Key facts on the Willard Peak Fire • Evacuations: Residents east of 1050 E and north of 2850 N are still under mandatory orders; an American Red Cross shelter is open at 3602 N. 500 W. Pleasant View. • Power: Rocky Mountain Power temporarily cut electricity to nearly 30,000 customers to protect fire crews, but service has been restored. • Weather threat: A dry-thunderstorm pattern with gusts to 35 mph could test unfinished handlines and cause new spot fires through mid-week. Air-quality outlook Both incidents are feeding a stagnant smoke cap over the northern Wasatch Front. The Utah Division of Air Quality projects “yellow” (moderate) conditions for Cache, Box Elder and Weber counties Wednesday morning, but readings could jump to “orange” (unhealthy for sensitive groups) during the afternoon heating cycle if winds shift from the west and push rail-yard smoke upslope. What drivers and commuters should do 1. Check UTA’s X (formerly Twitter) feed @RideUTA for real-time FrontRunner updates before heading to Ogden Station. 2. Use I-84 or Legacy Parkway as alternates to I-15 until incident command clears the Ogden Mill scene. 3. Keep vehicle AC on recirculate and carry a spare N95 mask if you must work outdoors. Fire-safety reminder Weber County fire officials report at least three drone incursions over the Willard Peak perimeter, grounding air tankers for nearly an hour. Flying private drones over any wildfire is illegal and can incur federal fines up to $20,000. Outlook Investigators expect to remain on scene at the rail-yard blaze overnight to extinguish deep-seated hotspots and protect critical fiber-optic lines that parallel the Union Pacific tracks. Meanwhile, the Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team hopes to secure the western flank of the Willard Peak Fire before winds intensify Wednesday afternoon. Residents should prepare for additional smoke, sporadic power disruptions and possible traffic detours as Ogden’s challenging August fire season grinds on.