Range Fire In Utah County Doubles In Size; Provo Canyon Remains Closed
Oct 18, 2020, 3:31 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 6:42 pm
Mandatory evacuations were lifted as crews continued suppression efforts on the Range Fire in Utah County. (Utah Fire Info)
(Utah Fire Info)
OREM, Utah — Crews continue suppression efforts on the Range Fire in Utah County. The blaze held steady with moderate fire activity overnight, but officials said the fire grew to 3,000 acres.
Mandatory evacuations were lifted Sunday morning.
Officials with the Orem City Police Department said all those who were evacuated east of 1360 East and north of 1060 North could safely return to their homes.
#RangeFire is making a run to the North, aviation resources in coordination with firefighters on the ground are engaged in suppression efforts. pic.twitter.com/DchIOetYQH
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) October 18, 2020
Air and ground resources from several Utah departments continue to fight the blaze.
Officials said the blaze is moving north.
#RangeFire 3,000 acres and growing. pic.twitter.com/KwIfP8DszD
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) October 18, 2020
Provo Canyon, including all the parks and trails, remains closed.
Officials said they don’t know when the canyon will reopen, but for now, they’ve asked the public to stay out of the area.
The Utah Department of Transportation said to use Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 40 as alternate routes.
Driver Alert: Provo Canyon remains closed while firefighting operations continue. Avoid the area; use I-80 and US-40 as an alternate route. Check the UDOT Traffic App or @waze for updates. @UDOTRegionthree @UtahTrucking pic.twitter.com/UkYkdpSPQq
— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) October 18, 2020
Officials said air quality in Provo will be poor for the next 24-48 hours, so residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed, and avoid any strenuous activity outside.
Around 9 p.m., Orem City officials said the fire was at 3,115 acres and 10% containment.
The Range Fire broke out Saturday afternoon near the gun range north of the canyon, close to 1000 East and Cascade Drive in Orem. Crews from the Orem Fire Department and Pleasant Grove Fire Department responded to what was then reported as a 15-acre fire.
By mid-afternoon, the fire had grown to 250 acres, and reached 1,500 acres by 7 p.m.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
