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EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Evacuation orders for homes in Eagle Mountain have been lifted as crews continue to battle a wildfire at nearby Camp Williams.
The 2,300-acre Pinyon Fire forced the mandatory evacuation of 56 homes in Eagle Mountain Monday evening. The residents of another 37 homes voluntarily evacuated.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the mandatory evacuation order was lifted, fire information officer Kim Osborn said. An evaluation of the fire — including where it has burned, where it is projected to burn and the planned actions for the day — led to the decision.
The fire, which was caused by lightning, remains zero percent contained. A Type 3 Interagency Fire team assumed command of the fire Tuesday and Osborn said they would have a containment estimate by Tuesday evening.
The fire was burning all on Camp Williams' property Tuesday morning. But Eagle Mountain Fire Chief Rand Andrus said one of the concerns is what the weather will do today as high temperatures are expected.
"The other thing we're famous for out here is the wind changes," he said.
Another concern for officials is the possibility of the fire finding unexploded munitions on Camp Williams property. Firefighters cannot handle such an ordnance themselves.
"If you didn't drop it, don't pick it up," said Utah National Guard Lt. Colonel Hank McIntire. "We tell soldiers that when their out on Camp Williams, when they're doing their training out on the range or out in the wild."
McIntire said the munitions may have been abandoned recently, or even 100 years ago. Army explosives experts stand ready to move them or render them safe.
"It wouldn't be that they're simultaneously trying to diffuse a piece of munition while the fire is going through that same area. It's after the fire has gone through, thus exposing the munition."
Meanwhile, the only structures reported to have burned as of Tuesday morning were three small buildings in a mock Afghan village and some power lines, according to the National Guard.
The Eagle Mountain Fire Department issued a mandatory evacuation order about 7 p.m. Monday for homes in the North Ranch subdivision. An evacuation center was established at Rockwell High School.
Contributing: Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen
