The Salt Lake City Fire Department confirmed the arrest of 43-year-old Matthew John Nelson following a vegetation fire near Memory Grove Park and City Creek Canyon on Friday morning. Nelson was booked into jail on charges of reckless burning and additional felony counts as the investigation remains ongoing.
Fire crews were dispatched to the scene shortly after the initial reports were made. According to the department, approximately 15 trees were damaged, and about a half-acre of land was burned before firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control. Officials credited early reports from park employees and community members for allowing crews to contain the fire before it could reach heavier fuels in the nearby canyon.
While the fire was extinguished quickly, local residents like Lance Weekley noted that emergency access to the park remains a challenge. Weekley reported that crews encountered some difficulty navigating through park gates, a concern that local neighbors have previously sought to address. Despite the incident, trails and park areas were reopened to the public by Friday evening.