This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A lightning-sparked wildfire raged Friday evening in a remote area of the West Desert.

The Death Canyon Fire began sometime in the late afternoon or early evening near Simpson Mountain, according Bureau of Land Managment spokeswoman Teresa Rigby. By 8 p.m. the fire had burned about 200 acres. The fire was not threatening any buildings or habitations, Rigby added.

The fire was burning on BLM land in an area that Rigby described as "pretty remote."

"Very few people go out there, but it's always good to warn people," Rigby added.

Afternoon lightning bursts ignited flames in multiple spots Friday afternoon, Rigby said, but the Death Canyon Fire is the only one that grew into a substantial blaze.

A helicopter and two small, single-engine air tankers were fighting the fire Friday afternoon. Two crews of about 20 people, a squad of about seven and several fire engines also were working to contain the blaze.

Further south, another lightening-sparked fire 20 miles north of Cedar City burned about 150 acres Friday. According to BLM spokesman Nick Howell, the fire began at 3:07 p.m. and did not cause any injuries, evacuations or other damage. Air tankers and approximately 60 people were fighting the fire Friday evening.

As of 9:30 p.m. the blaze was 10 percent contained.

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