We have an urgent situation unfolding in Salt Lake City, where a wildfire on Ensign Peak has forced residents living uphill from Utah’s state capitol to evacuate. The fire remains uncontained as more than 100 firefighters work tirelessly to protect nearby homes and contain the blaze.
The fire started Saturday afternoon, prompting a swift response from the Salt Lake City Fire Department and more than six other emergency agencies. Helicopters and airplanes have been deployed, dropping water over the flames to assist ground crews battling the fire on the steep terrain of Ensign Peak.
TIMELAPSE: Watch the Sandhurst Fire grow near Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City. ⌚🔥
FULL STORY: https://t.co/hnR21PsPHo pic.twitter.com/pyy2wAcFXi— KUTV2news (@KUTV2News) July 21, 2024
Division Chief Bob Silverthorne provided an update at a Saturday news briefing, highlighting the challenging conditions faced by firefighters. “With the heat, as well as the wind direction and just the temperatures out here and the fuel moisture, it’s kind of a recipe that we could have a quickly running fire,” Silverthorne said. The first crew was dispatched around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and efforts have continued around the clock.
The crew of the airplanes and helicopters assisting @slcfire and other agencies on the Sandhurst Fire have remarkable skill and precision.
We got to watch as a helicopter flew over a section of the fire that started quickly growing. #SLC #SLCPD #SaltLakeCity pic.twitter.com/dBQ7a3rMxr
— Brent Weisberg (@BrentWeisberg) July 21, 2024
Police officers have been knocking on doors to warn homeowners after a mandatory evacuation was ordered for an area of 40 homes on Sandhurst Drive, north of Dorchester Drive. A voluntary evacuation was also issued along East Capitol Boulevard. Residents were offered shelter in the capitol complex to escape the heat and stay safe.
Thankfully, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or structure damage. However, the fire has already grown to 150 acres and is currently zero-percent contained, according to the Utah Fire Info website. The exact cause of the brush fire is still unknown, but it has been listed as human-caused.
A wildfire in Salt Lake City forced people living uphill from Utah’s state capitol building to evacuate. It remained uncontained Sunday as more than 100 firefighters work to protect nearby homes.#wildfire #saltlakecity #slc #utah #news3now #localnews8 https://t.co/2656sC8nOJ
— Todd Kunz TV (@ToddKunzTV) July 22, 2024
This incident is part of a larger pattern this wildfire season in Utah, where 585 fires have burned over 40,000 acres. Alarmingly, 421 of these fires have been attributed to human activities. This statistic underscores the critical need for vigilance and preventive measures to reduce the risk of wildfires.
As firefighters continue their efforts to control the blaze, the community’s safety remains the top priority. Residents in affected areas are urged to stay informed through official channels and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
