Western wildfires close roads, force hundreds of evacuations
SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP) — A swift Utah wildfire more than doubled its size fanned by high winds in dry terrain and forced evacuations of hundreds of homes, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday.
The blaze south of Spanish Fork grew to 84 square miles (217 square kilometers) from 31 square miles (80 square kilometers) Thursday night when authorities ordered evacuations in three communities. Spanish Fork is about 50 minutes south of Salt Lake City.
No homes have been reported damaged.
Aircraft were set to drop retardant and water on the fire, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Suzie Tenhagen.
"Their main focus today is protecting those folks' homes," she said.