Evacuation Orders Lifted As Crews Make Progress On Parleys Canyon Fire

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Evacuation orders were lifted Tuesday evening as crews secured a greater handle on the Parleys Canyon Fire, amid intermittent, heavy rains.

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office announced the end to evacuations in two separate tweets.

BREAKING FIRE EVACUATION UPDATE 🔥 – #ParleysCanyonFire evacuations will be lifted for ALL of PINEBROOK beginning at 8pm tonight. Evacuation orders will remain in place for Summit Park and Timberline. We will keep you updated as more information is received. pic.twitter.com/1tSX3ed6YA

— Sheriff Justin (@SummitCountySO) August 17, 2021

ANOTHER BREAKING EVACUATION UPDATE 🔥- ALL Summit County residents may return to their residences tonight at 8pm. This includes Summit Park, Timberline and Pinebrook. #ParleysCanyonFire officials tell us residents may return home tonight. #summitcounty pic.twitter.com/k4dC6AZ4YO

— Sheriff Justin (@SummitCountySO) August 18, 2021

Earlier Tuesday, as many as 1,800 homes and up to 6,000 residents had been evacuated due to the fire, which had spread across 541 acres.

Fire Information Officer Nick Howell had expressed concerns about the weather causing more problems for firefighters, but instead, the evacuations came to an end sooner than expected.

“Yeah, we’re just really relieved,” Chris Saskiewicz said as she returned to her house.

She had spent the previous few nights in a Park City hotel.

Down the hill, Steve Warner also was grateful to be back in his house after staying at a relative’s place.

To him, the afternoon thunderstorms that surfaced were soothing.

“It was really nice to have rivers and the little stream and to see the moisture again and just to be able to be back home,” Warner said.

He was also thankful for the efforts of firefighters and first-responders.

Crews said Tuesday night, the fire was 40 percent contained.

🔥 Thanks to rain on the #ParleysCanyonFire, all residents will be allowed to return home after 8 PM! The fire is now 40% contained, still 541 acres. @UWCNF will also lift its area closure. See full incident information → https://t.co/MAJbRn7ysa https://t.co/OQ3pEww0C5

— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 18, 2021

Saskiewicz acknowledged the fire hazard was just part of living so close to nature.

“I guess it’s just the price you pay and risk you take to live in this beautiful place,” she said. “I think Mother Nature did us a favor, so we have to thank her, too.”