Juab County – Residents in Eureka, Mammoth and Silver City were ordered to evacuate Friday night as the Maple Peak Fire and the Cherry Fire merged into a blaze estimated at 20,000 acres. Officials set an evacuation route east on U.S. 6, activated a shelter in Elberta, and w
Friday night, evacuation signs and empty stretches of highway started to feel less like routine wildfire preparation and more like a deadline.
In Juab County, residents in Eureka, Mammoth and Silver City were ordered to evacuate after two newly started wildfires merged into a single, rapidly growing blaze estimated at 20,000 acres. The sheriff’s office directed residents to head east on U.S. 6.
A shelter was being established at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Elberta.
The fire now being called the Cherry Fire began when the Maple Peak Fire and the Cherry Fire joined forces. The Maple Peak Fire started on Maple Mountain west of the U.S. 6 rest stop. The Cherry Fire started near Weiss Highway and Cherry Creek in Juab County. Great Basin Incident Management Team spokesman Al Nash said the merged fire is now being called the Cherry Fire.
Officials said they believe the original Maple Peak Fire was started by a lightning strike on Thursday night.
Utah Fire Info reported that several campsites were impacted and that crews were working to evacuate campgrounds and RVs. The Cherry Fire has been driven by wind, and extreme fire behavior has made it so that resources haven’t been able to hold the road system, Utah Fire Info said.
While Juab County prepared to leave, the broader state response was already tightening.
Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran announced via Facebook on Friday night that a state of emergency had been declared in Utah County due to the fires. Beltran said there is no threat to Utah County residents. He said the state of emergency decision was made before the Maple Creek Fire and Cherry Fire merged into one.
In the same post. Beltran urged residents to “Please be vigilant when towing. operating heavy equipment. using campfires and barbecues and discharging fireworks in sensitive areas.” He added that “Our firefighters are exhausted. our resources are stretched thin and we are in a very vulnerable position.”.
Other fires ignited across Utah on Friday, including in central Utah, adding to the growing number of acres burned. Utah Fire Info said at least 16 new fires started in the last 24 hours, with more likely due to the red-flag warning for potentially dangerous conditions.
Sulphurdale Fire was discovered on Friday south of Cove Fort and I-70. Officials said they have not yet reported a known cause. The blaze had burned about 2 acres and was growing due to increasing winds. Officials requested travelers stay alert for changing conditions and possible traffic restrictions should the fire approach I-70. Utah Fire Info said the flames are near high-voltage power lines, I-70 and a geothermal power plant.
In Weber County, the Farr West Fire was called in at 12:10 p.m. Friday. Britt Clark. chief with the Weber Fire District. said the fire blew flames into a residential home in an attic and started the attic on fire. Clark said it started as a brush fire. According to the Weber Fire District. the home is a total loss. though the homeowner and a dog got out of the home quickly. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Weber Fire District said three firefighters were treated on scene for heat-related injuries and were released.
A separate unnamed fire started Friday near Tintic Junction and state Route 36, west of Eureka, and closed the road.
Another wildfire northwest of Fayette and south of Yuba Lake called the Rough Canyon Fire also ignited Friday, burning between 5 and 10 acres.
Wild Goose Fire started Friday east of Holden in Millard County and, by nighttime, had grown to an estimated 400 acres, according to Utah Fire Info.
In San Juan County, the Babylon Fire was estimated at 75 to 100 acres. Utah Fire Info said structures are threatened.
In addition, the Bureau of Land Management in Utah closed all BLM-managed lands west of U.S. 89 between Bullion Canyon Road, Marysvale and the southern Piute County border due to the Cottonwood Fire.
For residents in Marysville. Junction. and Circleville. officials said they have been told to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice due to active wildfires in the area and conditions that could quickly change. In Beaver, the North Creek area was awaiting an evacuation call as increasing winds fuel the Cottonwood Fire.
As a safety precaution. Rocky Mountain Power announced it had shut off power lines to Beaver. Garfield. Iron and Washington counties due to current and forecasted conditions. The company said southern and eastern Utah may see additional power shutoffs as conditions change. Rocky Mountain Power said these outages could last through Sunday and impact up to 18,000 customers.
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Juab County Eureka Mammoth Silver City evacuation order Cherry Fire Maple Peak Fire 20 000 acres U.S. 6 Elberta shelter Great Basin Incident Management Team Utah Fire Info lightning strike wind-driven wildfire Utah County state of emergency red-flag warning Sulphurdale Fire Farr West Fire Rough Canyon Fire Wild Goose Fire Babylon Fire Cottonwood Fire Rocky Mountain Power shutoff