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• Interview with Couple Evacuated Twice [2:54]

Cove Fort Residents Escaped Fire Just in Time

July 8th, 2007 @ 9:59pm

Sam Penrod Reporting

The Milford Flat fire has been the most destructive in the area of Cove Fort. We spent today talking to people who came back Sunday morning to see what was left.

Photo taken by Deb and Stu Lowe just before Cove Fort: "We were able to slow down, turn around across the median, and go northbound on the 15 to escape the flames."

No structures are in any immediate danger at the Cove Fort Historic area, although it is nearly surrounded by smoke and flames on the north, west and south.

We spent today finding the stories of those who survived the fire Saturday, and as you will see, they all got out just in time.

"A little piece of hell." That's how Shay Hodges, who works at the Chevron near Cove Fort, describes the firestorm that hit Saturday afternoon. You can see from Chopper Five how very close the fire came to the family-owned gas station.

"Just before we got out of here, there were orange-hot coals landing all around. It was crazy," Hodges said.

They watered down the convenience store with a garden hose before they had to get out.

Shaun Hodges said, "The smoke came over. You could feel the heat off the fire, and that's when we figured it was time to go and got out of here."

And until they watched our news report Saturday night, they believed their gas station was gone.

"'Til then we were hearing rumors it was all burnt to the ground," Shaun said. "So we feel pretty fortunate."

But not everything escaped the flames. A pickup truck left in a park-and-ride lot was destroyed. Freeway signs were burned, and the flames were so high along I-15 that a billboard was scorched.

As Chopper Five flew I-15 Sunday afternoon, you could see where the fire jumped the pavement and burned to the other side, showing just how intense and widespread this fire is.

Courtesy Dave Smith. Picture taken at Cove Fort. He and his wife were evacuated Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

A couple of miles down the road, at the Cove Fort Historic Site, the fire got so close that 32 LDS missionary couples who live there were forced to evacuate.

Elder Kent Jones, director of the site, said, "This has been a very, very frightening experience. This whole valley was full of smoke and flame and ash everywhere."

Firefighters worked overnight to protect the fort, which for now is out of the fire's path.

"We all love this fort dearly," Elder Jones said, "and we're very thankful that it is safe."