AMERICAN FORK — A campground in American Fork Canyon was evacuated after a small wildfire broke out late Thursday, while a popular reservoir in the area is also closed for firefighting operations.
The Timp Fire was first reported shortly after 11 p.m., according to the U.S. Forest Service. It was initially estimated to have burned 5 acres, but after further assessments, firefighters now believe it has burned just 2 acres.
It’s now 20% contained thanks to firefighting operations and “little growth” in fire activity, officials wrote in an update Friday afternoon.
“There is a lot of dead and downed vegetation, causing the visible smoke in the canyon,” U.S. Forest Service officials wrote. “The support from the helicopter bucket drops has been effective in slowing growth and moderating fire behavior, so crews can more directly attack around the fire.”
The Timpooneke Campground and Mutual Dell area remain closed after they were evacuated, the agency said. Timpooneke Road is closed at Alpine Loop Road, and Tibble Fork Reservoir is also closed as it’s used in firefighting operations.
U.S. forest officials are urging people not to stop along American Fork Canyon and Alpine Loop Road to watch the fire, noting that stopped vehicles can create traffic hazards for firefighters. They said emergency vehicles had multiple “close calls” with vehicles in the canyon on Friday because people had stopped to take photos.
Officials added that there were also two drone intrusions that briefly grounded aircraft.
A few trails in the area are also closed, according to Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran.
“It’s best to just avoid the area today,” he wrote on social media. “The U.S. Forest Service is actively managing the fire. Please also remember not to fly drones near the fire or the reservoir.”
It’s unclear what caused the wildfire, but it’s not the only one that broke out in Utah County on Thursday.
State fire officials said lightning sparked a fire west of Utah Lake near Saratoga Springs. The Twenty Two Fire quickly burned 41 acres, but was also listed as 75% contained by Thursday night.
Fire breaks out at Dimple Dell — again
Sandy firefighters quickly gained a handle on a grass fire that broke out at Dimple Dell Regional Park Friday afternoon, Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said.
Firefighters closed 1300 East between Sego Lily Drive and 10600 South while they battled the blaze. It’s unclear what sparked the blaze, but Zoltanski pointed out that it’s the fourth fire that has started in the natural space this year.
“We cannot stress enough just how dangerous conditions are right now in our wildland areas due to high temperatures, intense winds and lack of significant rainfall,” she wrote in a social media post.
Updates on ongoing Utah fires
Excessive heat is forecast throughout Utah this weekend and into early next week, which is expected to dry out the state even more.
Wind gusts of up to 30 mph and relative humidity as low as 6% are forecast in southwest Utah on Friday, combining with the heat to create critical fire weather there. The National Weather Service issued another red flag warning for the region, including where the Cottonwood Fire burns east of Beaver.
The wildfire grew a little on Thursday, now burning 97,130 acres since it ignited on June 22. It remains 58% contained, with 1,175 personnel assigned to battling it on Friday, per Great Basin Incident Management Team officials, who assumed command of the fire this week.
Meanwhile, containment is now up to 88% on the Wild Goose Fire near Holden, Millard County. The lightning-caused fire has burned 12,665 acres since June 26, and 400 firefighters remain assigned to battling it.
The Babylon Fire, Utah’s largest fire so far this year, is now 25% contained as crews gain ground. It has now burned 103,633 acres and remains the largest active fire in the U.S.