Fire updates: US Highway 6 closed as Pole Creek Fire forces evacuations

THISTLE, Utah County — The Pole Creek Fire forced the closure of several roads and canyons in Utah County Thursday, and more residents in the area were ordered to evacuate, authorities said.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the communities of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge, as well as the Covered Bridge Canyon community in Spanish Fork Canyon, officials said.

The fire had burned 20,000 acres, Forest Service officials said Thursday evening, and was moving to the north and northeast at that time.

Several major roadways in the area remained closed Thursday night, including parts of U.S. Highway 89 and U.S. Highway 6. Santaquin and Payson canyons were also closed, and the Nebo Loop Road was closed from state Route 132 in Nephi Canyon.

Friday's Fire Coverage

Watch here for live updates on this and other fires throughout the state:

Thursday, 09:34pm

U.S. Highway 6 closed as fires rage in Utah County

U.S. Highway 6 is closed from the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon to Helper as the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires are burning in Utah and Juab counties. Utah Department of Transportation officials are asking people to use an alternate route. U.S. Highway 89 is also closed between Highway 6 and the Sanpete County line due to heavy smoke from the fires. The fires were merging and had burned at least 20,000 acres as of Thursday evening.

Utah County drivers: the #PoleCreekFire has CLOSED U.S. 6. Check https://t.co/36kuYY4Mei for updates. https://t.co/2VPIXt6ITp pic.twitter.com/fRcOAWi4Qd
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) September 14, 2018

Thursday, 07:56pm

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox: Pole Creek Fire merging with Bald Mountain Fire

Two large fires burning near the border of Utah and Juab counties are merging, according to Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox. The Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires are merging and converging on the city of Woodland Hills, Cox said in a tweet Thursday evening. "This is a true emergency," Cox said. "Please heed all evacuation warnings. Do not take any chances." The Pole Creek Fire is at least 20,000 acres, officials said. The Bald Mountain Fire has burned at least 5,000 acres.

Unfortunately the #PoleCreekFire and the #BaldMountainFire are merging and converging on Woodland Hills. This is a true emergency. Please heed all evacuation warnings. Do not take any chances. Headed to the veterans Hall in Spanish Fork for community meeting now.
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 14, 2018

Thursday, 07:48pm

Salt Lake-area firefighters headed to help with Pole Creek Fire

Firefighters from Salt Lake City, Draper, West Valley and Unified Fire Authority are headed to Utah County to help fight the Pole Creek Fire, which grew rapidly to more than 20,000 acres on Thursday. Each department is sending a four-person crew and an engine, according to an emailed statement from Salt Lake fire officials. "Hopefully we will be able to take some of the pressure off of the firefighters that are already working hard on this fire," Salt Lake fire Capt. Matt Taylor said.

Thursday, 06:56pm

People evacuating horses due to Pole Creek Fire can bring them to Spanish Fork fairgrounds

Anyone who needs to evacuate horses due to the Pole Creek Fire can bring them to the Spanish Fork fairgrounds, according to Spanish Fork police. Spanish Fork is not being evacuated as of 7 p.m., officials said.

Due to the fire, those who need to relocate horses may bring them to SF Fairgrounds (first come first serve basis) before 9 pm tonight. Please do not leave trailers at the Fairgrounds.
— Spanish Fork Police (@SpanishForkPD) September 14, 2018

Thursday, 06:39pm

Pole Creek Fire in Utah and Juab counties grows to about 20,000 acres

As of 4:30 p.m., the Pole Creek Fire was "in the neighborhood of 20,000 acres," according to Utah County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Spencer Cannon. The fire has forced evacuations of Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge and the community of Covered Bridge Canyon in Spanish Fork Canyon, officials said.

Thursday, 06:38pm

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox has arrived on scene at the Pole Creek Fire

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox is on the scene at the Pole Creek Fire in Utah County. In a tweet, he praised the local, state and federal crews who worked to save some homes in the area.

Made it to the #PoleCreekFire in Birdseye. So impressed with the structure protection provided by local, state and federal teams that saved numerous homes. 👏🏼👊🏼✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/a5tgKpa5rh
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 14, 2018

Thursday, 06:08pm

Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge being evacuated due to Pole Creek Fire

The communities of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge in Utah County are being evacuated due to the Pole Creek Fire. The fire is burning north of Mount Nebo near the Utah-Juab county border and has ballooned in acreage on Thursday. The fire has reached Santaquin Peak, according to Utah County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Spencer Cannon. People who have been evacuated and need shelter or assistance can gather at Salem Hills High School in Salem, Cannon said.

Elk Ridge also now under mandatory evacuation order, per officials @KSL5TV #KSLTV #Utah https://t.co/GgtBaem0cr
— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) September 14, 2018

Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge, & Covered Bridge in Spanish Fork Canyon, are now on mandatory evacuation notice. The Pole Creek Fire has reached Santaquin Peak, putting them in greater danger. Evacuees needing shelter or assistance can gather at Salem Hills High School in Salem.
— Spencer Cannon (@SGTCannonPIO) September 14, 2018

Thursday, 05:28pm

Covered Bridge Canyon community being evacuated due to Pole Creek Fire

The Covered Bridge Canyon community in Spanish Fork Canyon is being evacuated due to the Pole Creek Fire, Utah County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Spencer Cannon said in a tweet. The fire is burning near Mount Nebo on the Utah-Juab county border.

Covered Bridge Canyon community in Spanish Fork Canyon is being evacuated because of the Pole Creek Fire.
— Spencer Cannon (@SGTCannonPIO) September 13, 2018

Thursday, 04:58pm

Pre-evacuation notices announced for some residents in Salem due to Pole Creek Fire

Residents south of the High Line Canal in Salem are asked to be ready to evacuate due to several fires in the area. Those residents are not asked to evacuate yet, but to be aware of the situation, Salem police officials said Thursday on Facebook. The Bald Mountain Fire and the Pole Creek Fire are both burning south of Salem, near Mount Nebo.

Thursday, 04:55pm

Bald Mountain Fire in southwest Utah County grows to 5,000 acres

The Bald Mountain Fire, burning north of Mount Nebo in southwest Utah County, has grown to 5,000 acres as of Thursday, according to Utah fire officials.

#baldmountainfire here is a video from today. Fire is estimated at 5000 acres. pic.twitter.com/AioQSCnREs
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) September 13, 2018

Thursday, 04:40pm

Rosecrest Fire southwest of Herriman expected to be contained by 6 p.m.

Fire officials are expecting to fully contain the Rosecrest Fire by 6 p.m., according to Unified Fire Authority. The fire sparked Wednesday afternoon after a resident digging with a backhoe in the area struck a power box, officials said. Several areas near Rose Canyon in southwest Herriman were evacuated due to the fire. A hand crew and a few engines will be working on any hot spots in the interior of the fire, Unified fire officials said.

Thursday, 01:43pm

Santaquin Fire Department posts list of needed donations for firefighters

Santaquin City Fire Department posted a list of donations on Facebook that may be helpful for firefighters battling blazes in Utah County:

baby wipes (for cleaning when there's no time to shower)

diaper rash cream (for chafing)

powder (for chafing)

long socks (laundry is tough on the fire line)

ChapStick

lotion (personal size)

water

gatorade

nonperishable food items/snacks (high calorie)

"Mandi Southwick is our designated donation coordinator and will be accepting donations at 664 N. 100 East," the Santaquin Fire Department said. "All donations will be shared with surrounding agencies who are supporting the fires fighting efforts."

Thursday, 11:32am

National Weather Service issues red flag warning for most of Utah through Saturday

Unfortunately GOES-16 hot spot data, and visible imagery shows that the Pole Creek & Bald Mountain fires are continuing to run hot and are producing large amounts of smoke today. Red flag warnings remain in effect for most of the state through Saturday. #utwx pic.twitter.com/Kkn0cIEKlL
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) September 13, 2018

Thursday, 11:32am

Riggs and Lonely Fires in southern Utah burn almost 1K acres total

The Riggs Fire has burned 450 acres in Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest after lightning sparked the blaze Aug. 25, officials said. The Lonely Fire has burned 523 acres and is burning 1.5 miles north of the Riggs Fire. Lightning sparked the blaze Sept. 6. The road in Bryce Canyon National Park is closed to traffic at Natural Bridge south to Rainbow Point. The Riggs Spring Loop Trail and the Under-the-Rim Trail are both closed. However, Highway 63 and roads leading into Bryce Canyon National park remained open. The Grandview Trail in Dixie National Forest is closed from the Willis Creek junction to Lower Podunk.

Thursday, 11:32am

Rosecrest Fire in Herriman 50 percent contained

No homes are threatened and all restrictions have been lifted after the Rosecrest Fire in Herriman forced closures and evacuations Wednesday, officials said. The fire is currently 50 percent contained and has burned about 67 acres, according to a tweet from the Unified Fire Department. The fire sparked southwest of Herriman near Rose Canyon Wednesday when a resident who was digging with a backhoe hit a power box, officials said. Fire crews worked to extinguish the fire until about 9 p.m. Wednesday and picked back up again at 7 a.m. Thursday. Officials expect the fire to be fully contained by 8 p.m.

Fire updates: US Highway 6 closed as Pole Creek Fire forces evacuations

Friday's Fire Coverage

Fire updates: Pole Creek Fire, Bald Mountain Fire in Utah County burn over 68K acres

U.S. Highway 6 closed as fires rage in Utah County

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox: Pole Creek Fire merging with Bald Mountain Fire

Salt Lake-area firefighters headed to help with Pole Creek Fire

People evacuating horses due to Pole Creek Fire can bring them to Spanish Fork fairgrounds

Pole Creek Fire in Utah and Juab counties grows to about 20,000 acres

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox has arrived on scene at the Pole Creek Fire

Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge being evacuated due to Pole Creek Fire

Covered Bridge Canyon community being evacuated due to Pole Creek Fire

Pre-evacuation notices announced for some residents in Salem due to Pole Creek Fire

Bald Mountain Fire in southwest Utah County grows to 5,000 acres

Rosecrest Fire southwest of Herriman expected to be contained by 6 p.m.

Santaquin Fire Department posts list of needed donations for firefighters

National Weather Service issues red flag warning for most of Utah through Saturday

Riggs and Lonely Fires in southern Utah burn almost 1K acres total

Rosecrest Fire in Herriman 50 percent contained