Residents in Eureka, Mammoth and Silver City in Juab County were ordered to leave Friday night after the Maple Peak Fire and the Cherry Fire merged into a blaze officials said was about 20,000 acres. The evacuation order sent people east on U.S. 6, while a shelter was being set up at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Elberta.
The move came as wildfires in Utah surged again on a day when at least 16 new fires had started in the previous 24 hours. The Maple Peak Fire began on Maple Mountain west of the U.S. 6 rest stop and was believed to have been sparked by lightning on Thursday night. The Cherry Fire started near Weiss Highway and Cherry Creek in Juab County, and after the two fires came together, the merged blaze was being called the Cherry Fire.
Residents in those towns were not the only people being pushed out of the way of the flames. Several campsites were affected, and crews were working to clear campgrounds and RVs as the fire kept moving in wind and extreme fire behavior prevented resources from holding the road system.
Skyler Beltran, the Utah County commissioner, said Friday night on Facebook that a state of emergency had been declared in Utah County because of the fires. He also said there was no threat to Utah County residents at the time and noted the decision came before the Maple Creek Fire and Cherry Fire merged into one. That left a sharp contrast between the emergency declaration and the immediate risk facing people in the county.
Beltran urged people to stay vigilant when towing, operating heavy equipment, using campfires and barbecues, and discharging fireworks in sensitive areas. His warning landed on a night when the danger was spreading faster than crews could pin it down.
The broader fire picture was still changing elsewhere in Utah. The Sulphurdale Fire was discovered Friday south of Cove Fort and I-70, burned about 2 acres and was growing as winds increased. Officials had not reported a known cause, and travelers were asked to watch for changing conditions and possible traffic restrictions if the fire approached I-70. The fire was also near high-voltage power lines, I-70 and a geothermal power plant.
Farther north, the Farr West Fire was called in at 12:10 p.m. Friday in Weber County and started as a brush fire before flames blew into a home’s attic. The house was a total loss, though the homeowner and a dog got out quickly. Three firefighters were treated on scene for heat-related injuries and released.
For Juab County, the immediate question is no longer how many fires were burning, but how far the merged Cherry Fire will keep running before crews can slow it. With wind still driving the blaze and campgrounds still being cleared, the evacuation zone could widen again before the night is over.
