Campers evacuated after fire breaks out near Mirror Lake Highway in Summit County

KAMAS — Campers were evacuated Thursday after a fast-growing fire broke out east of Mirror Lake Highway in a remote section of Summit County.

The Beulah Fire was first reported by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands shortly after noon. It is estimated to have burned 200 acres following an updated assessment of the site, state and federal firefighters reported Thursday evening. Earlier in the day, it was thought to be between 300 to 400 acres.

The fire started about 3 to 4 miles east of Manorlands, a community near Kamas and Mount Beulah within the High Uintas Wilderness of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Fire crews from Utah and Wyoming were brought in to fight the fire, said Derek Siddoway, a spokesman for Summit County.

State firefighters reported that the fire was threatening structures at first, but Siddoway said it doesn't appear that structures are being threatened. He added that the evacuation was "strongly advised" and not mandatory because of the conditions. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was brought in to assist in the evacuation of campers in the area.

Several campers made their way out of the area throughout the afternoon, many of whom said they were told about the fast speed of the fire by authorities as they were urged to leave. Some said evacuating the area is also easier said than done out in the wilderness.

"Normally, it's a dirt road that we'll take 2½ hours to drive in, so you know there's not a quick and easy way to get out. And you realize what lies ahead of you getting out, so (it was) very frightening and unnerving," said Drake McFall, of Lehi, who was one of the campers who evacuated.

North Slope Road is closed at the West Fork of the Blacks Fork River, the East Fork of the Bear River, and Mill Creek. Elizabeth Ridge and Elizabeth Pass roads are also closed, per the U.S. Forest Service. People are advised to avoid the area while crews battle the fire.

Weather not helping firefighters

It's unclear yet what started the fire, but weather conditions on Thursday haven't been ideal for wildland firefighters. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for nearly all of Utah because of a mix of hot temperatures, low relative humidity and wind gusts in the forecast.

The agency warned that gusts up to 40 mph could result in "critical fire weather conditions" throughout most of the state, although Summit County was the only location in Utah not included in Thursday's warning.

A dry cold front is forecast to pass through northern Utah Friday morning, which won't bring any precipitation but will bring in cooler, early September-like temperatures across the region, KSL meteorologist Kevin Eubank said. Another could do the same over the weekend statewide.

The cooler temperatures could help firefighting operations in the state, but Eubank cautions that changes in wind direction over the next few days could create "erratic fire behavior."

Meanwhile, the lack of moisture in recent weeks has only worsened drought conditions, increasing fire danger. Approximately two-thirds of Utah is now in severe drought or worse, including nearly 10% in extreme drought, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported on Thursday. Parts of the High Uintas Wilderness in Summit County are among the areas now in extreme drought.

"Everyone is aware of the conditions we're experiencing statewide. That's certainly no different up here," Siddoway said. "The elevation is a little bit higher, fuel moistures may be a little bit higher here, but it's dry. It hasn't rained much (and) it's been hot."

Nearly all of the state is listed as having above-normal fire risk because of the drying conditions.

This story may be updated.

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