SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A review of government records shows wildfires have burned at a Utah Army National Guard base an average of twice a year for three decades.
The worst blaze forced residents to flee more than 1,600 houses last month in the suburb of Herriman and raised questions about the danger at Camp Williams, nestled the foothills near Salt Lake City.
Information obtained by The Associated Press from a state government database shows that firearms and explosives were responsible for more than 40 percent of the 82 wildfires reported at the sprawling base since 1973.
The wind-whipped September fire ignited by machine-gun training blackened 6 square miles of dry brush on and off the base 26 miles from downtown Salt Lake City.
Three homes were destroyed and dozens more received soot and smoke damage.
