LOCAL NEWS

Evacuations ordered after wildfire breaks out on Traverse Mountain in Lehi

Jun 28, 2020, 1:02 AM | Updated: Jul 3, 2023, 6:56 pm

(Lehi Community Emergency Response Team)...

(Lehi Community Emergency Response Team)

(Lehi Community Emergency Response Team)

LEHI, Utah – At least 30 homes have been ordered to evacuate after a quick-moving fire ignited on the south side of Traverse Mountain in Utah County.

Multiple agencies have responded to the blaze that broke out around 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the Lehi and Alpine areas. Strong winds in the area have been pushing flames from the north.

Officials said there were two fires on the mountain. One was closer to the Outlets at Traverse Mountain that was put out. The second flared up after strong winds moved through the Wasatch Front before midnight.

The fire was estimated around 150 to 200 acres around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. By 3 a.m. it had burned several hundred acres.

Officials with the state fire command said the fire was started by fireworks, and there was a suspect who was cooperating with law enforcement.

Chief Jeremy Craft from the Lehi Fire Department was unable to confirm the cause of the fire.

LIVE: Brush fire burning on Traverse Mountain in Lehi. Evacuations are in place for nearby residents. Ladd Egan KSL is live at the scene.

Posted by KSL 5 TV on Saturday, 27 June 2020

Officials said structures were threatened by the flames.

The Lehi Community Response Team said homes in a one-quarter-mile radius from Vialetto Way to Annuvolato Way should evacuate.

Residents on Autumn Hills Boulevard and Spring View Lane have also been asked to evacuate.

Officers from the Lehi Police Department were seen going door to door at an apartment building in the area, letting them know to evacuate.

Officials from the Lehi Fire Department talk about Traverse Fire in Utah County.

Posted by KSL 5 TV on Sunday, 28 June 2020

The Utah Division of Emergency Management has reminded residents who need to evacuate to close their windows, shut off the HVAC system, take pets and follow all instructions from emergency personnel.

Officials said structure protection systems were in place between the homes and flames.

The gym at Skyridge High School has been opened for evacuees who need a place to go. The school is located at 3000 North Center Street in Lehi.

Crews from the Red Cross were at the high school to offer assistance.

Anyone with concerns about whether or not they should evacuate have been advised to do so rather than calling 911 emergency dispatchers for information.

The blaze has been named the Traverse Fire.

A staging area was initially set up at Belmont Elementary School, just north of Timpanogos Highway, and was moved to the Lehi City offices,

Several vehicles were stopped on the highway to watch the fire. Officers from the Lehi Police Department has asked people to avoid stopping on the busy roadway, and find parking lots instead.

Just before 3 a.m., Draper city officials issued a “prepare to evacuate notice” for the SunCrest area on the Salt Lake County side of Traverse Mountain, including the Maple Hollow, Brookside, Deer Ridge neighborhoods.

By 3:19 a.m., an evacuation order was issued for the Maple Hollow neighborhood. Draper Park Middle School was opened for anyone needing a place to go.

Rocky Mountain Power reported a power outage in Bluffdale, Draper, Kearns and Midvale, impacting around 7,500 customers. They said there were many lines down due to the windstorm that went through the area.

Officials said crews were out looking for downed lines, and did not expect to have power restored until around 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

Witnesses reported seeing some explosions along the fire line, where officials said some power lines were impacted by the fire.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

4 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

4 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

4 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

4 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

5 hours ago

A map shows where the Chief Toquer reservoir will connect to the Ash Creek Reservoir....

Cary Schwanitz

Feds pour $7 million into southern Utah water pipeline project

A project to build a new pipeline that will run from the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir received $7 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Evacuations ordered after wildfire breaks out on Traverse Mountain in Lehi