Explosive wildfire threatens thousands of homes in 2 Utah communities
About 10,000 people have been evacuated as a fast-moving wildfire pushed toward an explosives factory, officials said.
The so-called Dump fire has forced the authorities to put about 2,500 homes under mandatory evacuation order. The fire is raging in Kiowa Valley near a landfill for Saratoga Springs, a small town located about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City.
As of Friday evening, the fire had exploded to more than 4,000 acres, Inciweb reported.
The Dump fire is one of about 20 significant wildfires currently burning in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
US Weather Hazards Map
Red Flag Warnings are currently operating across 9 lower states and Hawaii.
- Colorado. High Park Fire. The massive wildfire located about 15 miles west of Fort Collins has grown to at least 70,000 acres, destroying or damaging hundreds of structures.
- “Hwy 14 is now reclosing east of Gould. It has been confirmed that more structures are being lost to the fire in the Hewlett Gulch area and there are preliminary reports that some structures may be impacted in the 12th Filing of Glacier View. No more details are available at this time.” Inciweb reported.
- The authorities have issued new evacuation orders for and PRE-evacuation notifications for half dozen additional communities, while mandatory evacuation orders remain in place across dozens of other areas.
- A small army of 1,879 personnel with dozens of helicopters, dozers, engines, feller bunchers and water tenders are tackling the difficult fire.
- As of 6/19/12 nearly 1.3 million gallons of water have been dropped on the fire, Inciweb reported.
High Park Fire Map. Full Size
Continued…
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