Fire updates: More evacuations ordered as Sanpete County fire grows

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INDIANOLA, Sanpete County — The Hill Top fire in Sanpete County destroyed two structures overnight and forced 350 people to evacuate their homes.

The newly sparked Hill Top Fire had burned an estimated 1,000 acres as of Monday night, fire officials say.

Meanwhile, the Coal Hollow Fire in Utah County burned another 1,200 acres Monday and continues to threaten U.S. 6, according to Manti-La Sal National Forest officials.

This article will be updated throughout the day with information on all the fires burning throughout Utah.

Tuesday, 04:46pm

More evacuations ordered for Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County)

Sanpete County Sheriff's officials tweeted Tuesday afternoon that Hideaway Valley homes south of South Ridge Road and west of Shadow Canyon Road are now under mandatory evacuation because of the growing Hill Top Fire. The area was placed on pre-evacuation earlier Tuesday. The Hill Top Fire has burned 1,400 acres since it started Monday and remains 0 percent contained.

#hilltopfire @UtahWildfire Mandatory evacuations for the area of Hideaway Valley south of South Ridge Road west of Shadow Canyon Road.

— Sanpete Sheriff (@SanpeteSheriff) August 7, 2018

Tuesday, 04:32pm

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) grows to 1,400 acres

The Hill Top Fire has now blackened 1,400 acres and remains 0 percent contained, Utah Fire Info officials tweeted Thursday afternoon. The 1,400-acre estimate means the fire burned about 400 acres, or a little more than a 1/2-square mile, since Tuesday morning. Officials said high temperatures and wind in the area has helped the fire spread. Single-engine air tankers were assigned to the fire Tuesday afternoon, splitting time between the Hill Top Fire and nearby Coal Hollow Fire, which is burning in southeast Utah County. The Hill Top Fire began Monday and was determined to be human-caused. Officials added "witnesses are being cooperative" in the investigation into how the fire started.

Tuesday, 04:00pm

New fire sparks in Carbon County, but officials say it's not a threat to structures

A new "small" wildfire began at the top of Castle Gate Canyon near Helper Tuesday morning, Carbon County Sheriff's officials wrote in a statement. Officials said the fire is believed to have started from a lightning strike. One helicopter was assigned to fighting the fire Tuesday because authorities said the area is "not easily accessed by road." The size of the fire was not immediately released, but authorities said it is expected to be contained "soon." The fire is not currently affecting any structures and officials wrote in a statement "there is no foreseeable danger to the residents of Helper City or Castle Gate Subdivision."

Tuesday, 12:43pm

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) deemed "human-caused"

Utah Fire Info officials tweeted Tuesday the Hill Top Fire, which has burned 1,000 acres and two structures since it began Monday, is now believed to be human-caused. However, an exact cause was not immediately released. About 350 people have been evacuated because of the fire and more than 100 other structures remained threatened by the wildfire Tuesday.

It's been determined that the #hilltopfire was human caused.
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 7, 2018

It's been determined that the #hilltopfire was human caused. Witnesses are being cooperative.
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 7, 2018

Tuesday, 11:20am

Pre-evacuation notices ordered due to Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County

Portions of the Hideaway Valley Drive area are now under a pre-evacuation notice because of the growing Hill Top Fire, Sanpete County Sheriff's Office officials tweeted Tuesday morning. Authorities clarified that means those in the area should "be ready to leave and pay attention to fire conditions."

#hilltopfire @UtahWildfire We are doing pre-evacuation notices in portions of Hideaway Valley. Pre evacuation means be ready to leave and pay attention to fire conditions.
— Sanpete Sheriff (@SanpeteSheriff) August 7, 2018

More than 100 homes and about 350 people have already been evacuated because of the fire. Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands spokeswoman Leann Fox said two structures have been destroyed in the fire. In the meantime, the sheriff's office tweeted the Red Cross is expected to set up an evacuation center at a church in Indianola (located at the corner of Indianola and Indianola Canyon roads) Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday, 10:37am

Coal Hollow Fire (southeast of Spanish Fork) burns another 1K acres

The Coal Hollow Fire burning about 1 1/2 miles from U.S. 6 in Utah County burned another 1,200 acres since Monday morning and has now burned an estimated 2,300 acres since it started Saturday, Manti-La Sal National Forest officials wrote in a report Tuesday morning. The fire grew Monday "mostly in steep and rocky areas with the vegetation type being mixed conifers and pinyon/juniper stands," officials wrote in the report. The fire remains 0 percent contained, and officials believe it was started by lightning. Officials said railroad tracks, power lines and the highway are threatened by the fire. Motorists are encouraged to be cautious and avoid distractions by the fire and firefighting operations, but the highway remains open. Lake Fork Canyon Road and Dairy Fork Canyon Road remain closed in the area. However, no evacuations have yet been issued. About 110 firefighters were assigned to the fire Tuesday. However, high temperatures and low humidity forecasted for the area is expected to help the fire grow, officials said.

Tuesday, 10:01am

Jardine Fire (near Mount Jardine, Cache County) now 75 percent contained

A lightning-caused fire burning east of Mount Jardine in Cache County is now 75 percent contained, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest officials said Monday night. The fire has burned 3.5 acres since it sparked July 29. Officials wrote in a report that the fire is “burning within steep, rocky terrain in the cliffs of the South Fork Cottonwood Canyon” in the area. The Kings Peak Wildland Module was assigned to the fire again Tuesday after they worked to “eliminate fuels in the area through piling and burning,” officials wrote. The crew also worked to clean up seven campsites in the area. Officials said no structures or campgrounds are affected by the fire and no closures have been issued. However, officials urged hikers to avoid the areas where fire operations are underway.

#uwcnf #Jardinefire update August 6, 2018 Jardine Fire east of Mount Jardine in Mount Naomi Wilderness Logan Ranger District fire reported July 29th lightning caused 3.5 acres 75% contained. pic.twitter.com/nWCg4H3MWg
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 7, 2018

Tuesday, 09:21am

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) burns 2 structures overnight, threatens more than 150 others

Two structures were destroyed overnight and more than 150 other structures are being threatened by the Hill Top Fire burning in Sanpete County, officials said. Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands spokeswoman Leann Fox said it wasn't immediately known what those structures were. Nearly 100 personnel were assigned to fight the fire Tuesday morning, including "quite a few local engines, county engines, volunteer fire departments," Fox said. However, more personnel are expected to join the firefighting effort Tuesday. "The crews that are here will be doing structure protection on the many structures that are threatened," Fox said. The fire has burned 1,000 acres and is 0 percent contained. A hot and dry forecast for Sanpete County Tuesday isn't creating favorable conditions for crews, Fox added. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Tuesday, 07:42am

FEMA authorizes funds to pay for Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Hilltop Fire in Sanpete County. Utah state officials requested the funding Monday evening and the authorization came through early Tuesday morning. Part of the FEMA statement reads: "The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire." FEMA says eligible items include:

expenses for field camps

equipment use, repair and replacement

mobilization and demobilization activities

tools, materials and supplies

Tuesday, 06:45am

Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County destroys some structures

The newly-sparked Hill Top Fire had burned an estimated 1,000 acres as of Monday night, fire officials say. The fire started near Indianola, Sanpete County, Monday evening and eventually burned toward the nearby town of Milburn, threatening homes there too. More than 100 homes were evacuated, affecting 350 people. Residents, including Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, jumped into action to protect homes and structures. Some structures were lost overnight, but officials don't have an exact number yet.

This is how farmers fight fires. 👊🏼❤️🙏🏼 #HilltopFire pic.twitter.com/v8uvodKNE6

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 7, 2018 Fire officials hope to get more crews to the fire despite thin resources as wildfires rage around Utah and the country. The cause of the fire is still unknown as of Tuesday morning. — Caitlin Burchill, KSL TV

Fire updates: More evacuations ordered as Sanpete County fire grows

By Carter Williams and Tracie Snowder, KSL.com | Posted - Aug. 7, 2018 at 10:18 p.m.

Show 4 more videos

More evacuations ordered for Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County)

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) grows to 1,400 acres

New fire sparks in Carbon County, but officials say it's not a threat to structures

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) deemed "human-caused"

Pre-evacuation notices ordered due to Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County

Coal Hollow Fire (southeast of Spanish Fork) burns another 1K acres

Jardine Fire (near Mount Jardine, Cache County) now 75 percent contained

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) burns 2 structures overnight, threatens more than 150 others

FEMA authorizes funds to pay for Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County

Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County destroys some structures

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Fire updates: More evacuations ordered as Sanpete County fire grows

By Carter Williams and Tracie Snowder, KSL.com | Posted - Aug. 7, 2018 at 10:18 p.m.

+ Show 4 more videos

More evacuations ordered for Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County)

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) grows to 1,400 acres

New fire sparks in Carbon County, but officials say it's not a threat to structures

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) deemed &quot;human-caused&quot;

Pre-evacuation notices ordered due to Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County

Coal Hollow Fire (southeast of Spanish Fork) burns another 1K acres

Jardine Fire (near Mount Jardine, Cache County) now 75 percent contained

Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) burns 2 structures overnight, threatens more than 150 others

FEMA authorizes funds to pay for Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County

Hill Top Fire in Sanpete County destroys some structures

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Hill Top Fire (southeast of Indianola, Sanpete County) deemed "human-caused"