One-third of Saratoga Springs evacuated due to fast-moving wildfire

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah – Around 3,100 homes in Saratoga Springs have been evacuated because of the fast moving Knolls Fire that broke out south of the city. Officials said some homes have sustained damages.

City spokesperson David Johnson said the evacuations impacted over 13,000 people, which is about a third of the population.

Residents in the Lake Mountain Estates and Pelican Bay neighborhoods were first asked to evacuate as flames moved cover to the area.

Fire officials later expanded the evacuation orders to all homes south of Grandview Boulevard on the west of Redwood Road. Those residents have been advised to head to Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs.

The fire started around 2 p.m. Sunday.

Officials from the Utah Community Emergency Response Teams (Utah CERT) said the Knolls Fire was threatening structures Sunday afternoon on the south side of the city.

#KnollsFire This is a massive evacuation area:

All homes South of Grandview Blvd on the WEST of Redwood Rd, please evacuate homes.

All evacuated residents are now advised to head to Westlake High School, located at:
99 N 200 W, Saratoga Springs, UT 84045

— Utah CERT Teams (@Utah_CERT_Teams) June 28, 2020

Chief Jess Campbell with the Saratoga Springs Fire Department said the evacuations initially impacted around 100 homes. High winds, smoke and dust made the conditions difficult for firefighters.

Air support was called off because of strong winds. Aerial crews were not expected to return to the area until at least Monday morning.

Utah CERT said the fire was behaving erratically in heavy winds with gusts of 40 to 50 mph moving through the area. State fire officials reported a wind gust of 57 miles per hour. They said the smoke and dust made it challenging to contain the fire.

Redwood Road was closed going south at the spot of the fire. Chief Campbell said there were flames on both sides of Redwood Road.

Details about how the fire ignited or how close flames have come to the structures were not available.

3:30PM UPDATE:
Residents can find shelter at local church building, located at:

2947 S Swainson Avenue
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah 84045

Please bring any readily accessible face masks during this time social distancing.

— Saratoga Springs UT (@saratogasprngut) June 28, 2020

A shelter was first established at a building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2947 South Swainson Avenue. With the additional evacuation, officials asked people to move to Westlake High School at 99 North 200 West.

Any who goes to the school has been asked to bring face masks and maintain social distancing.

Chief Campbell said the Red Cross had been preparing for around 1,000 people impacted by the fire, though that number increased dramatically in a short amount of time.

Fire managers preparing structure protection in south Saratoga Springs in the path of the #knollsFire pic.twitter.com/wbSE6yvC3P

— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 28, 2020

A declaration of local emergency was issued in the city of Saratoga Springs shortly after 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

8:15PM FIRE UPDATE:
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs held an emergency meeting and issued a declaration of local emergency.

Link to the meeting here:https://t.co/dx8XNQDoGS

Link to the emergency declaration here:https://t.co/KQv1FHmvR9 pic.twitter.com/lWLVTccnzL

— Saratoga Springs UT (@saratogasprngut) June 29, 2020