Utah Wildfires Consume Thousands of Acres, Impact Homes
Disaster Alert
June 29, 2020
Source: Desert News
Additional Resource:
KJZZ.com (Multiple Wildfires Burn Thousands of Acres Across Utah)
KSL NewsRadio:
3,100 Homes Evacuated in Saratoga Springs After Lightning Sparks Fire Near Utah Lake
Evacuation Orders Lifted in Lehi, Draper After 500-Acre Fire Sparked by Fireworks
Approximate locations sustaining home damage:
Utah
Canal Fire (30,000 acres; 0% containment)
– Leamington (Millard County, 84638)
– Fool Creek (Millard County, 84640)
Knolls Fire (10,000 acres; 25% containment)
– Saratoga Springs (Utah County, 84005, 84043, 84045)
Traverse Mountain Fire (500 acres; 26% containment)
*Evacuation orders lifted 6/28/20
– Lehi (Utah County, 84005, 84043, 84045)
NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Major Disaster.
No injuries, no homes reported lost, but officials warn fire danger remains high
LEHI — A wildfire west of Utah Lake forced the evacuation of 13,000 people from 3,100 homes in southern sections of Saratoga Springs Sunday afternoon as strong winds drove flames close to homes and made a battle from the air impossible for firefighters.
It was the second fast-moving fire that forced residents to flee along the Wasatch Front in less than 24 hours.
Crews from across Utah and Salt Lake counties earlier Sunday battled the fireworks-caused Traverse Mountain Fire that started late Saturday night. After the risk to nearby homes in Lehi and Draper decreased, most were called to the Knolls Fire that ignited Sunday afternoon south of Saratoga Springs.
After several hours evacuated, some Saratoga Springs residents were allowed to return to their homes just before 11 p.m. The evacuation order ended for those who live north of Village Parkway, but they were told to stay prepared to leave again should the need arise. Residents south of Village Parkway, west of Redwood Road, and south of Harbor Parkway remained evacuated.
By early evening, the fire was moving away from homes but still posed a threat to the area as it burned more than 2,000 acres and was 0% contained, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which authorized funds for Utah in fighting the blaze.
“The fire itself is moving primarily away from structures. We’re still doing some mop-up behind some of the homes that were affected,” said Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Jess Campbell. The fire was moving up Lake Mountain to an area that hasn’t burned in many years and has a lot of fire fuel.
Jason Curry, spokesman with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, said in all his years fighting fires, he’s never seen winds as heavy blowing in an urban area during a fire.
Though the cause was initially reported as lightning, sheriff’s officials said Sunday evening it was still under investigation. Some homes had been “impacted” by the fire and damaged but the extent of damage was not known.
For full report, please click the source link above.
