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SPANISH FOUL – Governor Gary Herbert said on Saturday that he had new hope that the pair of forest fires choking the air with smoke could prevent the destruction of nearly 2,000 evacuated homes in South County. Utah.
"We have reason to hope, I feel better today than last night," said the governor after flying over the fires of Pole Creek and Bald Mountain in a Blackhawk helicopter.
But despite his confidence in the plan put in place to fight the country's two priority priorities, he said there was "no guarantee" that firefighters could prevent the flames from reaching the houses.
"The best you can do is hold the line," said Herbert, noting that local fire departments have engines in place if the fire passes through the areas cleared by the bulldozers to create a barrier.
Herbert also offered what he said was good news, namely that the estimate of the actual area burned up to now by fire caused by lightning was reduced by 68,000 to 60,000 acres.
But the governor said "it is too early to say" when the 6,000 residents of Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge and other fire-threatened areas will be allowed to return home, suggesting that it could take at least 48 hours.
He encouraged the Utahns to help displaced people from their homes.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office announced Saturday afternoon that Diamond Fork Canyon and Sheep Creek were under a pre-evacuation order and that the United States 6 was closed at Spanish Fork Canyon.
On Saturday evening, officials announced 600 additional people to help the 600 firefighters already present, but there is not much to do to control the fire.
"Our ability to come closer and work the fire, especially at the north end of the fire where all the communities are, has been, well … very limited," said Evans Kuo, deputy commander of the Five Great team.
"We could try, we could put people there, but most likely the fire would go over our lines and we could not contain it."
He added, "I want to be brutally honest with you," he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Utah County Commission Vice President Bill Lee spoke out loud against the federal authorities, which he said were responsible for the lack of control and fire control.
"These cold fingerprints in this case are everywhere in the federal government when it comes to this issue," said the commissioner, calling for "all hands on the bridge" for now. "Let's put out that fire and find that urgency again."
Lee said that he considered the fires as a "crime scene because there was a failure at our political level regarding our federal government.They knew this fire was out there" .
Yet, the commissioner said, "They left the fire for weeks before it exploded, where is the responsibility?" He called for talks between local, state and federal officials "because it affects the lives of individuals here".
Asked about Lee's comments, the governor said that was not the time to point fingers.
"At the time, I do not think anyone was sitting around doing nothing," he said. The authorities, instead, he said, have attempted to turn the lightning fire into a directed burn intended to remove debris.
Mr. Herbert said the focus now must be on firefighting, promising "afterwards, we can dissect until the cows come home."
He said he expects the fire to be a topic when he will meet with federal officials in Washington, DC later this month.
"We will learn a lot," said the governor. "Mistakes may have been made."
Utah State Ranger Brian Cottam said the fires had been fired by lightning on the US Forest Service's territory. Cottam said that he was not familiar with the decisions made by the agency.
But he agreed with the governor that the issues on the management of the situation by the federal government should wait.
"Right now, it's our firefighters on the ground," Cottam said. "It's about the people who have been evacuated, it's about their safety and comfort, we have to focus on extinguishing that fire."
Lee on Friday described pine trees that exploded near the Loafer Canyon cabins and said that with gusts of up to 50 mph, the flames will likely be pushed to nearby communities.
"He's coming," Lee said.
The governor said that Utah's emergency declaration was immediately put in place by the state so that the region could receive federal aid.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for residents of Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills, along American Highway 89, Nebo Creek in Thistle Junction, and the Covered Bridge community near the mouth of the Spanish Fork Canyon.
There are Santaquin, Payson and Nephi canyons, the Nebo Loop Road at State Route 132, US 89 between Thistle Junction and the Sanpete County Line, and the US 6 through Spanish Fork Canyon.
Sgt sheriff of Utah County Spencer Cannon said that it is essential that people stay away from these areas, although the authorities are trying to house people who have to return home for critical needs, such as than the recovery of drugs or pets.
The Utah County Department of Health's director, Ralph Clegg, warned of the dangers caused by the smoke and advised residents to stay indoors as much as possible, especially young people, the elderly or the lungs.
Some outdoor recreational events have been canceled, including city-sponsored soccer games in Sandy.
"We know that it is very unhealthy to have prolonged exposure to the outdoors and to ensure the health and safety of our participants, parents, coaches and staff members," a message Sandy Parks and Recreation states.
At the same press conference at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, Incident Commander Marty Adell said crews were coming from all over the country and carrying helicopters, tankers and engines to fight the fires.
Adell said firing lines are being set up to protect homes if the winds set fire in that direction. He was lucky, he said, that the strong winds forecast for Friday have stabilized and that fires are progressing at a "relatively moderate pace" at this time.
Lee called the fire department "the white hats. They are here to help. This is the cavalry that arrives.
For residents of Utah County living near the fire, there is a lot of uncertainty.
"At present we can not see the flames because there is so much smoke, but at night we can see them very clearly," said Holly Beifuss, whose 23-acre property is right next to the area. Evacuation of Elk Ridge. "We sat outside last night and saw it burn."
Beifuss said that she had decided to stay with the family's horses and mules while waiting for her husband to return from a hunting trip, but that her friends and family were bringing tractors, lawn mowers and weeds.
"I did not feel threatened like that," she said. "I'm just watching."
But she fired her daughter, son-in-law and their young children who live in a house on the property because the smoke is too strong and they were "a little nervous with the kids here".
Jan Newman, president of the Elk Ridge Utah Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that he and others had remained busy ensuring that the evacuees had a place to go.
"It's a little stressful," said President Newman. "Everyone seems to be doing well."
He indicated that about 24 residents of a senior care center in Elk Ridge had been transferred to hotel rooms and hospital beds, while the rest of the residents were not allowed to stay in Elk Ridge. Other residents of the community of about 4,000 people resided with people they knew.
"It is really overwhelming to see the level of love and concern of people here in the community," he said. "We appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers for the people here."
contributing: Jasen Lee
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