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SALT LAKE CITY — Wildfires fueled by high winds spread in Utah on Friday.
The Lone Fire has now burned into the Lakeshore Fire in Tooele County, burning a combined estimate of 380 acres, Utah Fire District tweeted Friday afternoon. The combined fire is now being called the Lakeshore Fire, and multiple federal, state, and local ground resources are on scene and both directions of traffic on Interstate 80 were affected Friday evening.
The Utah Highway Patrol tweeted after 10 p.m. that I-80 had been reopened near Tooele; UDOT's traffic site said that left lanes were closed. "Intermittent closures may still be necessary as crews work in the area. Please stay alert while driving in the area. We encourage motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes," troopers wrote. Check UDOT's traffic website for overnight updates.
Another blaze, the Cyprus Fire, began Friday evening along I-80 east of the Lakeshore Fire at the junction of state Route 201 and I-80, and has burned an estimated 100 acres, officials said. Firefighters "are executing a backfiring operation" to slow the fire spread, officials tweeted.
State Route 201 is expected to be closed for several hours, UHP said. Utah fire officials reported that the Cypress Fire has jumped the roadway and was threatening the Rio Tinto smelter.
#CypressFire has jumped the roadway, threatening the Rio Tinto Smelter. #kmyffslpic.twitter.com/1hdeEGn2m8
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 18, 2022
The Lakeshore Fire began by burning about 30 to 40 acres near I-80 and forced the closure of the freeway eastbound near the Great Salt Lake Marina.
The interstate in both directions was restricted in for all high-profile vehicles from the Nevada border to Tooele due to wind gusts in excess of 65 mph, but those restrictions have been lifted, but drivers are still encouraged to use caution as winds may gust up to 45 mph, officials said.
#LoneFire has burned into #LakeshoreFire and is now known as #LakeshoreFire. Multiple federal, state, and local ground resources on scene. Estimated at 380 acres. Fire is running uphill. pic.twitter.com/V1qkmAbnaS
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 17, 2022
Fire trucks were again on the interstate as of 7:30 p.m., officials said. Power lines in the area are also being threatened, and due to the erratic winds, aircraft have been grounded and are unable to fly to fight the fire, authorities said.
Red flag warning conditions, which include high winds and low humidity, were expected to last through 10 p.m. Saturday along the Wasatch Front, prompting Gov. Spencer Cox to tweet a safety reminder on Friday.
"Hey friends, please be careful out there. It's impossible to overstate the fire danger right now with this heat and wind. We already have multiple starts today. Please take extra precautions this weekend. Check your chains/target shooting/fires/cigarettes. You know the drill!"
Hey friends, please be careful out there. It's impossible to overstate the fire danger right now with this heat and wind. We already have multiple starts today. Please take extra precautions this weekend. Check your chains/target shooting/fires/cigarettes. You know the drill!
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) June 17, 2022
Legacy Parkway was also temporarily closed on Friday north of Parrish Lane in Centerville due to a wind-fueled fire in both the median and east shoulder of the road. The Utah Highway Patrol believes that fire was started by a trailer that had an axle break.
Rocky Mountain Power announced that it would enact a proactive service interruption in parts of Iron County on Friday afternoon. It attributed the decision to "elevated wildfire conditions" and "high, gusty winds."
"Our system is built to withstand most weather events, but extreme weather is unpredictable and can cause damage in any season," Curt Mansfield, Rocky Mountain Power senior vice president of power delivery, said in a release. "Public safety is our highest priority, and we stand prepared to take measures to reduce the chance of a wildfire."
Additionally, Rocky Mountain Power said that the elevated winds in many sections of northern Utah could cause weather-related service interruptions,
In a correction to the prior tweet, this High Wind Warning for the Salt Lake Valley is through 10 p.m. Saturday. The northwestern portion of the valley will see the strongest winds today, then the southeastern corner this evening. More widespread strong winds Saturday. #utwxhttps://t.co/8NL9yYM2Dt
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) June 17, 2022
"In the event of an outage, restoration times could be longer than normal as personnel inspect lines and equipment. These measures are intended to promote public safety, and Rocky Mountain Power appreciates the patience of customers," the company said.
Dust blowing off of fields along I-15 near Paragonah creating reduced visibilities. Use caution travelling today across the western half of Utah. #utwxpic.twitter.com/91D8uHI7Kt
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) June 17, 2022