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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, August 29-31, 2018 The Park Record A-9 Bullet hits bus containing passengers, no one hurt Police believe incident was unintentional shooter was aiming at the vehicles because the shots were fired from within a peach orchard full of thick, tall trees that would have prevented the shooter from seeing U.S. Route 89 where the bus and semitrailer were traveling, Berger said. The bus was taking commuters to Salt Lake City when the bullet went through one of its windows near Fruit Heights, about 20 miles north of Salt Lake City. Utah Transit Authority spokesman Carl Arky said 12 passengers were transferred to another bus to finish the route. The semitrailer hauling cement dust was hit once in its trailer. Berger said whoever the shooter was “could have been in there just shooting critters or plunking at a tree.” “It’s just one of those safe- BRADY MCCOMBS Associated Press FRUIT HEIGHTS — A commuter bus and a semitrailer traveling on a Utah highway were accidentally hit when someone fired a series of shots from a nearby peach orchard early Monday morning, police said. No one was hurt, but officers are still trying to determine who opened fire five to 10 times, said Ty Berger, chief deputy at the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. The bus and semitrailer were struck by one bullet each. Investigators don’t think the ty tips: If you’re going to discharge a weapon, know what you’re shooting at and know what’s beyond it to avoid this,” Berger said. Police started investigating after neighbors near the orchard reported being awakened by shots before sunrise and some called 911. “It’s disconcerting to a quiet neighborhood,” Berger. The peach orchard sits among a residential neighborhood and is next to U.S. Route 89. Shae Ramirez said she awoke to three loud pops that her fiance told her was gunfire. She said it’s not normal for people to be shooting in the peach orchard, which abuts her house. The events put her on edge as she helped her two children get up and ready for school. “I’ve been nervous all morning,” said Ramirez. State experiencing worst wildfire season in 15 years Nearly 370 structures lost so far, average is 49 in Dollar Ridge that has consumed 363 structures have made 2018 stand out. “If not for that one fire, obviously the numbers would be far, far lower,” Utah Division of Forestry spokesman Jason Curry said. “That fire moved very quickly — as many fires have this year.” The conditions are because of a low snowpack during the winter that has led to an extreme drought, Curry said. While investigators still believe the wildfire in Dollar Ridge, which has cost an estimated $20.9 million to extinguish, was started by human causes, the case is still ongoing. Investigators do not have any leads and are keeping their options open, Curry said. Utah wildfires this year have consumed nearly 250 square miles — the second-most Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — The 370 structures burned in Utah wildfires so far this year is more than the previous five years combined and the most in the last 15 years. Structures lost to Utah wildfires in the last five years combined would not reach a third of the devastation seen this year, according to data from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Wildfires in Utah destroy an average of about 49 structures a year, the Deseret News reported . But dry conditions and one devastating wildfire devastating year in the past five years in terms of acres burned. Utah comes second only to California in terms of structures lost, which has lost 1,149 structures so far this year, according to Forest Service estimates. But after the fires are put out and the destruction estimated, there is not much that state and federal fire officials can do for those who have lost property, Curry said. “Our mandate is to deal with wildfire,” Curry said. “We prevent, we prepare for and we suppress wildfire, and beyond that, we don’t really come into play.” Over 133,000 Utah homes are at high or extreme risk from wildfire, according to risk-assessment firm Verisk — about 14 percent of all homes. Get the top local news stories delivered directly to your inbox with a new weekly email update from the Park Record! Sign up now at bit.ly/prrecordroundup Used Bikes starting at Demo skis & boards starting at 79 99 $ $ LABOR DAY BLOWOUT! 30-70% off previous year apparel, accessories & footwear Starting 8/29 Canyon Mountain Sports Canyons Village (435) 658-5544 Legacy Sports Park City Mountain Village (435) 615-3441 |