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A pair of explosive forest fires continue to burn to hundreds of homes in southern Utah County, driven by high winds as firefighters cross difficult terrain and are barely visible.
According to infrared reports from the fire department, the fires caused by lightning have caused fires in both Pole Creek and Bald Mountain Brooks. The fires have not yet come together.
"I can not underestimate that – it's a difficult fire, and we have a number of tough days in front of us," said Brian Cottam, the Utah State Forester. "Red flags condition the days when they are among the worst in the fight against fires. We are just at the beginning of this event. "
About 5,000 people were evacuated from Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge and the Spanish Fork Canyon Covered Bridge. Parts of Spanish Fork, Payson and Salem are subject to pre-eviction notices.
Governor Gary Herbert and several state forest officials attended an information session with firefighting personnel at the Spanish Forks Exhibition Center on Friday night.
More than 430 staff members are currently fighting the fire, but authorities expected the number to reach 1,000 as aircraft and ground assets continue to arrive.
On Friday, air assets were used to fight both fires. According to the Utah County Sheriff's Office, four airlifters were brought in and two other tankers were about to help them. Two helicopters also offered support. Air resources struggled on Thursday and Friday due to inversion and conditions.
"We have already lost a firefighter in the California fires," said Herbert. "We want to make sure that life is first and foremost."
A Type 1 incident management team is on the scene and another team is on the way, officials said.
"We have a lot of structures in the fire path and it can be very, very devastating if we can not contain them," said Herbert. "It's time to do our part as citizens. Listen to the instructions given by your leaders in your local towns, in the county and in the state.
He encouraged local residents to start emergency preparations and conserve water, natural gas and food.
"If you seem to go up with the man, let's see what we can do to help with the weather," he added.
Fires are ranked among the # 1 priority fires at the national level, said Jason Curry, chief information officer for the Utah Forest, Fire and Land Division.
The fire that ravaged the branches above Woodland Hills on Friday afternoon and fire was fired at the mouth of the Santaquin Canyon, according to the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
"Teams from all walks of life work to ensure the safety of people and property," said the sheriff's office.
When the two fires broke out, firefighters did not immediately quell the epidemics, because controlled fires often get rid of heavy fuels such as undergrowth and dead trees, he said.
"When they have the opportunity to see a fire caused by lightning, they have the obligation to leave that option open and to do it," Curry said. "Most of the time, we do a good job. It's very, very rare that this decision ends up resembling that. "
Herbert said the focus should now be on fighting fire and protecting life.
"I think there are things that can be improved, but it's not time to think about it today," he said. "All we are going to focus on is fire, protect property and people and their property."
What happens this weekend
According to the US Forest Service, the rapid growth of fires north and east is expected to continue until Sunday. Weekend forecasts predict strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures in the region, which will hamper firefighting efforts.
Utah County officials are expected to submit a crisis statement Saturday morning, according to UCSO officials.
"It's a real emergency and the risk of being a major emergency based on what will happen in the next few days," Herbert said Friday night.
A continental breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner will be provided by the Red Cross for evacuees and firefighter staff from Salem Hills High School on Saturday.
As for donations, the Red Cross says they will publish more information Saturday on the necessary supplies. As of Friday night, the most needed items were towels and toiletries.
There will also be a community meeting on Saturday at 5:00 pm, organized by the Great Basin Incident Management Team. The meeting will be held at the Salem Hills High School auditorium and the incident management team will provide the latest information on both fires.
Evacuations still in place
Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills and the covered bridge area in Spanish Fork Canyon are still under mandatory evacuation on Friday night.
Woodland Hills City Councilor Kari Malkovich said all citizens had been evacuated safely. Although Salem Hills High School is available for displaced people, Malkovich said many people have offered additional rooms that no one of the thousands of IDPs have had to spend Thursday night at the IDP. school.
On Friday night, the only people who spent the night in high school were local firefighters. There are trailers and caravans in the school car park.
Malkovich said that city officials were informed that the fire had reached a quarter of a mile and a half mile from the city limits.
"Firefighters have a plan in place," Malkovich said. "They are ready and ready to do their job."
At a meeting with locals Friday morning at Salem Hills High School, Woodland Hills Mayor Wendy Pray said fire crews throughout the county were responding to the fire and were sleeping Thursday night to watch the fire and save the houses. Law enforcement agencies also help patrol the area to ensure home security beyond the fire.
Parts of Spanish Fork, Payson and Salem are subject to pre-eviction notices.
Thousands of inhabitants have been displaced. Woodland Hills is home to 1,548 residents and Elk Ridge is home to 3,757 residents according to the 2017 US Census Bureau estimates.
These communities have joined areas already awaiting evacuation from Wednesday night, including the area from Nebo Creek to Thistle Junction in Spanish Fork Canyon. These evacuations affected about 50 to 60 people, said Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the sheriff's office.
Cannon said the sheriff's office was working with residents who had to return home to buy needed items such as drugs, pets or livestock. Deputy Ministers will accompany those in need and access points are located at 11200 S. Woodland Hills Drive for Woodland Hills and 11200 S. Loafer Canyon Road and 11200 S. Elk Ridge Drive for Elk Ridge.
There may be no access to the covered bridge area due to ongoing fire operations.
Those evacuated may receive supplies at the Nebo School District warehouse located at 161 E. 400 North in Salem. Evacuees can go through the east doors.
Roads and canyons remain closed
US Highway 89 remains closed from the junction of the US Highway with Utah-Sanpete County Line 6. The United States was closed Thursday night but was reopened on Friday morning.
The Payson and Santaquin canyons are both closed and the Nebo Loop Road in Nephi Canyon is closed.
Schools and students affected
More than 16 percent of students in Nebo School District were absent from school on Friday.
According to Lana Hiskey, spokesman for the Nebo School District, 5,433 students were absent on Friday afternoon. The district has about 33,000 students.
The schools were functioning normally on Friday, but the buses did not circulate in the evacuated areas. Hiskey said the students were not penalized for being exempted from school for the fire.
At least 11 schools were affected Friday by fires and evacuations, according to Hiskey.
Nebo District also treated Friday a severe air quality day and children were not allowed to go out during recess. Otherwise, the schools continued normally, even if the students were absent.
Interruptions e-mail service
According to the US Postal Service, residents of Elk Ridge, Canyon Payson, the Spanish Fork Canyon Covered Bridge area, Birdsey and Eagle Landing areas will have discontinued their mail service. Mail will not be delivered to homes in these areas at this time.
Evacuees to Elk Ridge and Payson Canyon can pick up their mail at the Payson Post Office at 955 E. 100 North during normal business hours. Those in Birdseye and Eagle Landing can pick up their mail at the Mount Pleasant Post Office at 55 N. 100 West. Those in the covered bridge area can pick up the mail at the Spanish Fork Post Office at 165 E. 900 North.
All mail for Woodland Hills was delivered to homes on Friday.
Those who pick up the mail will have to present a photo ID to the collection.
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