Photos Parleys Canyon fire stand

A visual narrative through the eyes of the Salt Lake Tribune photo team.

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Around 2 p.m. on Saturday, a vehicle “with a catalytic converter in poor working order”Sparked a forest fire, which authorities referred to as the Parleys Canyon Fire. Interstate 80 was quickly closed, stopping traffic in both directions.

As the fire spread, a large and growing plume of smoke was visible in the Salt Lake valley.

Early Saturday afternoon, the Summit County Sheriff’s Department advised that the residents of Summit Park evacuate the area. Hikers and spectators gathered in nearby canyons to watch the fire spread and smoke fill the sky.

Correct before 3:30 p.m., the Lambs Canyon area was ordered to evacuate. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered at 4:16 p.m. for the Pinebrook, Summit Park and Timberline areas.

An unusually large aerial response was mobilized to fight and contain the blaze, as well as local, state and federal first responders on the ground.

Helicopters and planes flew trips throughout the afternoon and evening.

Afternoon winds spread the blaze and at times removed enough smoke for the extent of fire damage to become visible for the first time.

The exact numbers varied depending on the source, but officials felt the Parleys Canyon fire posed a threat to 2000 structures (and power lines). The mandatory Saturday evacuation orders applied to 6,000 to 8,000 homes.

By mid-evening, I-80 had reopened (at least partially) in both directions.

Red Cross volunteer Tina Spencer noticed the smoke from Holladay. She contacted Red Cross organizers and, along with other volunteers, directed Guardsman Pass to establish emergency shelter for evacuees at Park City High School.

[Read more: Residents fleeing Parleys Canyon Fire take shelter at Park City High School]

As night fell on Saturday, firefighters continued fighting on the ground and in the air.

On Sunday morning, Sierra Hellstrom, public information officer for the US Forest Service, shared good news: Cooler temperatures had prevented the virus from spreading overnight. And at least for now, the landscape itself was helping contain the blaze: the Parleys Canyon Fire was in a “two-ridge” bowl of I-80.

But the wind, which often rises in the afternoon, could change everything.

The firefighters mobilized early to assess the situation, establish a perimeter and manage the intervention for a second day.

Authorities also announced that Jordanelle State Park will be closed to the public on Sunday in case firefighters need access to Jordanelle Reservoir as part of their response efforts.

Sunday’s response included 120 people and by 10 a.m. several helicopters had been mobilized to drop water on the blaze.

The first aerial mapping of the blaze was completed in early Sunday afternoon, confirming the blaze has covered 619 acres. While the fire is smaller than estimated on Saturday, it remained “at 0% containment” Sunday afternoon.

[Read more: Parleys Canyon Fire is 0% contained but smaller than first estimated, at 619 acres]

Efforts to fight the Parleys Canyon fire are ongoing.

– This is a developing story and will be updated.