Cedar Fort Fire Threatens Homes, Burns Over 200 Acres

CEDAR FORT, Utah – A handful of homes were threatened Wednesday after crews said a roadside project apparently started a brush fire.

Utah County Fire Warden Kelly Watts said winds quickly pushed the Cedar Fort Fire across farmland, burning down a shed.

“The initial response was to a grass fire started by mowing along the highway to cut down the grass there,” Watts said.

The fire shut down state Route 73 for a time as the flames spread across 209 acres.

As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, crews said the Cedar Fort Fire was 50% contained.

Watts said as the fire pushed close to houses, it nearly surrounded one home.

Neighbor Chris Barrow, who lives across S.R. 73, noticed the flames approaching fast.

“It was moving really quick toward their shop and their house and their livestock,” Barrow said.

Barrow said it didn’t look like the neighbors had realized the full gravity of the situation, so he ran across the street to help get them out of their house.

“It was pretty urgent,” Barrow said. “I mean, they’re kids. They’re 8 and younger and so it was pretty important to get them out.”

Firefighters said if the winds hadn’t eventually worked in their favor, the situation could have been much worse.

“If we didn’t have such a good response and a good stop with local resources, you’re looking at dozens of homes to the north here,” Watts said.

With red flag warnings covering most of the state, firefighters urged people to be careful in the extremely dry and volatile conditions.

“You have to be not only smart about what you’re doing but be observant,” Watts said. “If you’re out there operating equipment, don’t do it during the heat of the day. Make sure you’re looking back. Make sure you have something to put out a fire.”