4-acre fire puts a scare into residents

Fire Safety

By the Deer Springs Fire Safe Council

A fire that broke out between Interstate 15 and Champagne Boulevard on July 13 slowed freeway traffic and jangled nerves in Champagne Village, which had received a couple of scares last year during freeway fires.

The latest fire, called the Gopher Fire, broke out in mid afternoon north of the I-15/Deer Springs Road interchange and was contained to four acres. Quick responses by CAL FIRE ground and air crews kept it from spreading beyond the brush between the freeway and the boulevard.

The Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol closed Champagne Boulevard to through traffic while firefighters beat down the flames, and the fire was contained by 7:30 p.m.