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Wildfire Forces Thousands to Evacuate Homes

Image by arbyreed / Creative Commons via flickr

A wildfire continues to burn Friday evening in Western Utah County near Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.  Mandatory evacuations have forced thousands of people out of their homes. Sergeant Spencer Cannon is a Public Information Officer with the Utah County Sheriff Department. He says that officers have been going to door to door, telling people they need to leave.

“Of course people don’t like doing that, but we’ll increase patrols in the area and make sure homes are protected,” said Cannon.

Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love says as many as 8000 people have been evacuated from her city.

“We have pretty much now have evacuated, or have an evacuation order for the entire Southwest side of the city,” said Love, “the winds are still very strong, and we’re just trying to get briefings so far on how to contain the fire. 

Love says there has been only one minor injury to a firefighter reported, and so far no property damage.  But, she says, it’s not over yet.

“The winds are still blowing, and you never know, the weather is completely unpredictable.  I could not tell you how it’s going to go or when it’s going to stop or die down, so we have no idea,” said Love.

A Red Cross Reception Center for those displaced has been set up at Westlake High School. Residents have been asked to call 801-789-6600 for updates on the fire and only use 9-1-1 in emergency situations.

Andrea Smardon is new at KUER, but she has worked in public broadcasting for more than a decade. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and news announcer for WGBH radio. While in Boston, she produced stories for Morning Edition, Marketplace Money, and The World. Her print work was published in The Boston Globe and Boston.com. Prior to that, she worked at Seattleââ
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