🔥Railroad maintenance sparks caused deadly Adams Fire in Washington Terrace, Utah on July 27, 2026 The fire started July 27 along the railroad corridor near 182 West 5700 South in Washington Terrace. Investigators determined it began in an area where railroad workers had recently used a brush-hog-type cutting attachment. 🔍I obtained records from Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands in early October detailing the investigation. Investigators found a damaged steel J-bolt and metallic shavings near the fire’s origin. They concluded that metal-to-metal contact between maintenance equipment and steel hardware produced sparks or hot particles that ignited nearby cured grass. The report says investigators ruled out natural causes, electrical failures, utility malfunctions, smoking materials and incendiary activity. The fire’s cause was classified as accidental. The fire burned an estimated 72 acres, damaging multiple homes, fences, landscaping, outbuildings and utility infrastructure, the report says. The fire also killed 87-year-old Washington Terrace resident Cecil “Ted” Burrell. Deputies and officers found Burrell with severe burns while evacuating residents and carried him from the property to safety. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His tenant told KUTV that Burrell had become trapped near the flames. A deputy also sustained burns while performing life-saving actions, according to the state investigation. The investigation was based on physical evidence, witness information and examination of the scene.