Fire updates: Residents of Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills to return to their homes Saturday morning

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated - Sept. 21, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. | Posted - Sept. 21, 2018 at 12:53 p.m.

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SPANISH FORK — Residents of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be able to return to their homes Saturday, officials announced Friday night.

During a community meeting at Salem Hills High School, Woodland Hills Mayor Wendy Pray said based on recommendation from fire and county officials, the mandatory evacuation orders for Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be lifted at 9 a.m. Saturday

A new visualization was released Friday that shows how the Pole Creek Fire grew since it sparked by lightning Sept. 6.

The visualization shared by Utah Fire Info shows how the fire started southeast of Mona, Juab County but really blossomed from Sept. 13 through Monday.

At 98,642 acres Friday, the Pole Creek Fire is the largest wildfire in Utah this year. Some portions of the fire have merged with the Bald Mountain Fire and the two combined to scorch more than 116,641 acres in southeast Utah County.

It's also close to where the Coal Hollow Fire burned more than 30,000 acres in August.

Crews made good ground on the Bald Mountain and Pole Creek fires Thursday, officials said Friday. The Pole Creek Fire is now 32 percent contained, while the Bald Mountain Fire is 12 percent contained, as of Friday morning.

U.S. highways 89 and 6, which had been closed for several days, were also reopened Thursday.

Thursday's coverage

This blog will be updated throughout the day as information about Utah's wildfires becomes available.

Friday, 07:52pm

Residents of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be able to return to their homes 9 a.m. Saturday

Residents of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be able to return to their homes Saturday, officials announced Friday night. During a community meeting at Salem Hills High School, Woodland Hills Mayor Wendy Pray said based on recommendation from fire and county officials, the mandatory evacuation orders for Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be lifted at 9 a.m. Saturday. Residents in Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will then be placed on pre-evacuation status until otherwise notified, officials said. “We remind you, thought, that we’re going home, we will still on pre-evacuation status,” Pray said. She added at there would be some restrictions in both cities. Residents of Elk Ridge and Woodland Hills can call 844-681-5436 if they see more fire activity. The phone line will not be activated until after 9 a.m. Saturday.

Friday, 02:53pm

Slate Fire (burning near Kamas) now 422 acres

The Slate Fire, which sparked because of lightning about six miles northeast of Kamas on Aug. 23, has now burned 422 acres, according to U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Brenda Bushell. She said firefighters created containment lines on the north and northwest portion of the fire near the Slate Creek drainage Thursday. Helicopters were also used in the northeast corner near the South Fork drainage. Firefighters were assigned to same areas Friday, according to Busell. She said Yellow Pine Trail is closed while crews work on the fire.

Friday, 12:47pm

Spanish Oaks area lifted from pre-evacuation status

An area known as Spanish Oaks in Spanish Fork is no longer under pre-evacuation status, city officials said Friday. The city said this includes Spanish Oaks Reservoir and the Spanish Fork Gun Club. The city advised those in the area should still be aware of the fire and be prepared if that status changes.

Friday, 11:30am

Update to Bald Mountain Fire operations

The Bald Mountain Fire burning in southeast Utah County has burned close to 18,000 acres, fire officials said Friday. Crews have been working to secure the southern end of the fire located east of Mount Nebo, said Bill King, Field Operations manager for the Rocky Mountain Type 1 team. "This is looking really good and we're going to be able to get some more containment on the lines," he said in a YouTube video uploaded by Utah Fire Info. He added crews had a "successful" day on the northwest end of the fire south of Elk Ridge and that the fire hasn't moved much in the past few days on the western edge. As crews continue to have success, he said they are hoping to allow residents in Elk Ridge and Woodland Hills to return to their homes "in the near future."

Friday, 11:14am

Updates to Lonely and Riggs fires

The Lonely and Riggs fires have now burned nearly 2,000 acres at Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah, according to U.S. Forest Service officials. Both fires were caused by lightning, with the Riggs Fire starting on Aug. 25 and the Lonely Fire sparking on Sept. 6. A new air monitoring system was installed at the park's headquarters and in Tropic to track air quality because of smoke from the fires, Bureau of Land Management officials said Friday. The park remains open, but the Riggs Spring Loop Trail and Under-the-Rim Trail are closed. The Grandview Trail from Willis Creek junction to Lower Podunk is also closed in Dixie National Forest. Three engines and a helicopter were assigned to fighting the fire Friday.

Friday, 12:53pm

Shelter set up for animals displaced by Utah County fires

The fires have forced the evacuation of about 6,000 residents. As most of those evacuations remain in place, a Facebook page was set up to help evacuees from the fires locate their missing pets, Utah Fire Info tweeted Friday. It's the latest help given to animals displaced by the fires. About 30 volunteer cowboys helped round up cattle in the path of the Pole Creek Fire Thursday.

Fire updates: Residents of Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills to return to their homes Saturday morning

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated - Sept. 21, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. | Posted - Sept. 21, 2018 at 12:53 p.m.

Show 3 more videos

Thursday's coverage

Fire updates: U.S. Highway 89 reopens as Pole Creek, Bald Mountain fires burn over 113K acres

Residents of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be able to return to their homes 9 a.m. Saturday

Slate Fire (burning near Kamas) now 422 acres

Spanish Oaks area lifted from pre-evacuation status

Update to Bald Mountain Fire operations

Updates to Lonely and Riggs fires

Shelter set up for animals displaced by Utah County fires

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Fire updates: Residents of Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills to return to their homes Saturday morning

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated - Sept. 21, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. | Posted - Sept. 21, 2018 at 12:53 p.m.

+ Show 3 more videos

Thursday's coverage

Fire updates: U.S. Highway 89 reopens as Pole Creek, Bald Mountain fires burn over 113K acres

Residents of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge will be able to return to their homes 9 a.m. Saturday

Slate Fire (burning near Kamas) now 422 acres

Spanish Oaks area lifted from pre-evacuation status

Update to Bald Mountain Fire operations

Updates to Lonely and Riggs fires

Shelter set up for animals displaced by Utah County fires

Photos

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