More than 3,100 homes with 13,000 residents evacuate in Utah as a wildfire sparked by 'lightning' spreads to more than 10,000 acres as firefighters battle a second blaze started by illegal fireworks (10 Pics)
More than 13,000 people have been forced to evacuate 3,100 homes as a raging fire sparked by 'lightning' in Utah spread across 10,000 acres.
Lightning was initially reported as the cause of the blaze, dubbed the Knolls Fire, on Sunday night, but according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the fire is still under investigation.
The fire was sparked Sunday evening and due to extremely high winds burned across 2,000 acres.
By Monday morning, the Knolls Fire had spread over 10,000 acres, according to the Utah Fire Info Twitter account.
Lightning was initially reported as the cause of the blaze, dubbed the Knolls Fire, on Sunday night, but according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the fire (pictured) is still under investigation
The fire was sparked Sunday evening and due to extremely high winds burned across 2,000 acres. Thick clouds of smoke were seen hovering over homes in Saratoga Springs
By Monday morning, the Knolls Fire had spread over 10,000 acres, according to the Utah Fire Info Twitter account. Fire trucks are seen responding to a neighborhood in Saratoga Springs
More than 13,000 people were forced to evacuate 3,100 homes as a raging fire sparked by 'lightning' in Utah spread across 10,000 acres
The fire is at 25 per cent containment and evacuation procedures put in place Sunday are still in effect through at least Monday.
According to the city of Saratoga Springs, there is no timeline on when residents can return to their homes.
Crews are currently accessing power lines and other potential hazards.
City officials reported that there have been 12 homes damaged by the Knolls Fire and one home lost, which is out of the Saratoga Springs city limits.
There have been nine reports of property damage, 18 reports of fences lost and one reported loss of an outbuilding.
Terrifying footage that was recorded by a responding firefighter and shared on Twitter by the Utah County Fire Marshal, shows the dramatic moment the Knolls Fire destroyed fencing around a home in Saratoga Springs.
Saratoga Springs mayor Jim Miller and the city council declared a local emergency due to the Knolls Fire.
Meanwhile, firefighters were battling another blaze on Sunday that was dubbed the Traverse Fire.
City officials reported that there have been 12 homes damaged by the Knolls Fire and one home lost, which is out of the Saratoga Springs city limits. There have been nine reports of property damage, 18 reports of fences lost and one reported loss of an outbuilding
Saratoga Springs mayor Jim Miller and the city council declared a local emergency due to the Knolls Fire (pictured)
Officials said illegal fireworks sparked the fire that forced out residents of houses and an apartment building early Sunday.
A suspect was cooperating with law enforcement, Utah Fire Info said. Fireworks are prohibited in the area.
Strong wind gusts had been reported in the Lehi area as the Traverse Fire grew to about 450 acres, the agency said. Lehi is about 28 miles south of Salt Lake City.
It died down significantly midday Sunday. Evacuations for the fire were lifted as of Monday morning.
Photos showed the fire erupting in the background of a residential area and behind a large church. Evacuations were ordered in Lehi and Draper.
About 20 homes were in imminent danger when crews first arrived. Rain during the day helped tamp down the flames and no structures were considered threatened by midday, Lehi Fire Chief Jeremy Craft.
As of Monday morning, the fire is 26 per cent contained. The fire-scarred hillside above the community is now at increased danger of mudslides, he added.
That could threaten houses if heavy rain occurs before the vegetation can grow back, Craft said.
Meanwhile, firefighters were battling another blaze on Sunday that was dubbed the Traverse Fire (pictured Sunday night)
Photos showed the fire erupting in the background of a residential area and behind a large church (pictured Sunday night)
About 20 homes were in imminent danger when crews first arrived to the scene. Early morning rain on Sunday helped tamp down the flames and no structures were considered threatened by midday, Lehi Fire Chief Jeremy Craft
The Traverse Fire burns near homes in Lehi, Utah, on Sunday. Officials say fireworks caused the wildfire and forced evacuations early Sunday morning
A high school gym in Lehi and a middle school in Draper were offered as shelters, according to tweets from the cities.
No injuries and only minor structural damage were immediately reported. The Red Cross said the Draper shelter was closed after about 40 people who sought assistance were no longer there.
Dangerous fire conditions were forecast for Sunday afternoon through Monday across parts of Utah.
Projected gusts of up to 50mph and low relative humidity levels mean any fires that start could rapidly spread.
Rocky Mountain Power tweeted that about 7,500 customers lost power.
Craft said the fire started at an 'opportune' time of high fire risk.
'Super dry fuels, all of the sudden we get kind of a dry wind storm that comes in, and this thing was explosive,' the fire chief said.
'It's unfortunate that this incident happened. It caused a lot of people a long, sleepless night.'
