A wildfire is raging across a swathe of land in Utah after a blaze broke out early on Sunday evening.
The fire, which has now spread to more than 400 acres, first sparked into life in Buckley Draw Canyon, in the Provo area of Utah County.
The Springville Police Department said no evacuation orders were in place, although they are continuing to monitor the situation. Officials have urged residents to keep away from the area, warning that while it may be “exciting to watch,” the subsequent traffic and crowds “make it extremely difficult” for fire crews to do their work.
Newsweek has contacted the Springville Police Department for comment.
Why It Matters
The latest blaze comes amid heightened fears of wildfire dangers following the deadly infernos in California in January, which saw dozens of people killed and left thousands of others homeless. More than 12,000 buildings burned to the ground and thousands of acres were razed to ashes.
This summer, several states have been hit by wildfires. Last week, a prison in Colorado was evacuated as one of the largest blazes in the state’s history burned through more than 113,000 acres.
It’s not only flames that can endanger residents; experts have also raised fears about the thick plumes of smoke that blanket the surrounding areas.
What To Know
In Utah, the wildfire broke out in Provo shortly before 5 p.m., south of Slate Canyon and west of Kyhv Peak Road. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
The Springville Police Department posted a photo on Facebook of a pillar of smoke rising from the mountain as fire crews worked to tackle the blaze. The wind direction was initially “pushing the fire up the mountain,” the caption said.
Wildfire Notification:At 5 pm, Provo Fire was notified of a wildfire up Buckley Draw Canyon (just south of Slate Canyon.) Helicopters and airplane tankers are working the fire, as well as crews…
Helicopters and airplane tankers were deployed to drop water on the fire, using Bartholomew Pond as a dip site, the U.S. Forest Service said. The agency urged residents not to fly drones in the area because doing so would force it to ground its own aircraft. “If you fly, we can’t,” officials wrote on Facebook.
The Springville Police Department issued a similar warning, urging people to keep their drones out of the skies and leave the area clear of crowds and traffic to enable fire crews to go about their work.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Forest Service account for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest posted on Facebook on Sunday: “#BuckleyDrawFire now estimated at 400+ acres. A Northern Utah Type 3 team has been ordered. Cause: under investigation. Helicopters are using Bartholomew Pond as a dip site. Please respect temporary closures for public and firefighter safety. Please do not fly drones, doing so will ground aircraft. ‘If you fly, we can’t.’ As conditions change, power lines and homes at the base of the mountain South of Slate Canyon Road may be threatened. There are no evacuations at this time. Multiple local, county, state and federal resources are on scene.”
The Springville Police Department wrote on Facebook on Sunday: “At this time, there is no danger to any structures in Springville due to the fire. I will try to keep everyone updated through social media. Be aware that if any pre-evacuation plans occur, a reverse 911 will be sent to those in the area, and officers will make sure that everyone is aware.
“Utah County Fire Department will be using Bartholomew Pond tomorrow again, first thing in the morning. The park will be closed until further notice. I understand that it is exciting to watch the helicopters, however, the amount of traffic and crowds did make it extremely difficult tonight, with the manpower that we have. Please, stay away from the area unless it is through traffic. It is of utmost importance that we keep the area clear so that the Utah County Fire units can have all the space to work so that they can safely and efficiently fight this fire.
“Officers will be in the area tomorrow to make sure of this, please help us by staying out of the area so we can have units free to respond to other emergencies that may arise.
“Also, there is under no circumstances that drone flights are allowed while this is occurring. If helicopter pilots see a drone, they have to terminate the whole operation until the drone is cleared. Please help us make this a smooth operation.”
What Happens Next
Fire crews continue to tackle the wildfire, and the investigation into the cause of the incident remains ongoing.
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