TL;DR: Temple-area grass fire forced short evacuations before orders lifted

TL;DR: A Saturday-afternoon grass fire west of the Saratoga Springs Temple forced evacuations on Mahogany and Roman streets, grew to about 175 acres on Lake Mountain, and let residents return after 7 p.m. as the state took command.

According to KUTV in its report titled "Grass fire near Saratoga Springs Temple forces temporary evacuations," several homes were evacuated after a grass fire broke out near the temple in Utah County.

According to Fox 13 in its report titled "Evacuation orders lifted after Saratoga Springs brush fire grows to 175 acres," fifteen homes on Mahogany and Roman streets were under evacuation orders until residents were allowed to return after 7 p.m.

The incident name was reported as the Glambert Lane Fire by KUTV and ABC4, and as the Glamer Lane Fire by Fox 13 and affiliated coverage.

Where and when the Lake Mountain fire started

Saratoga Springs Fire & Rescue said the brush fire ignited Saturday afternoon on the north side of Lake Mountain, according to ABC4 in its report titled "Lake Mountain brush fire prompts evacuations in Saratoga Springs."

City officials said the fire broke on the north side of Lake Mountain on Saturday, June 6, according to KUTV.

The flames spread north in a dry grassy area just west of the temple, according to KUTV.

The temple reference is to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Saratoga Springs, according to Fox 13.

Saratoga Springs Fire & Rescue wrote on social media that the fire is burning west of the LDS Temple and that Mahogany Street has been placed under an evacuation order, according to ABC4.

First reports of the fire came in around 1:15 p.m., according to ABC4, citing Saratoga Springs public information officer AnnElise Harrison.

Fox 13 reported the Glamer Lane Fire broke out just after 3:15 p.m.

ABC4 posted its original item at 4:16 p.m.

The cause is under investigation, according to ABC4, citing Harrison.

Harrison added that the fire started on the Saratoga Springs side and is moving northwest toward Eagle Mountain proper, according to ABC4.

The fire was impacting some areas in Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain, according to KUTV.

The fire burning on the west side of Utah Lake was visible across much of the area, according to Fox 13.

Heavy dark smoke was visible from much of Utah County and even over South Mountain into Salt Lake County, according to KUTV.

Many shared reports from mountain areas in the Salt Lake Valley, according to Fox 13.

How big it got and how containment stood Saturday

ABC4 reported in a 4:48 p.m. update that the Glambert Lane Fire was estimated to have burned 15-20 acres.

Officials confirmed in a 5:33 p.m. update that the fire had burned approximately 175 acres and was 0% contained, according to ABC4.

Fox 13 reported the fire had grown to 175 acres on the north side of Lake Mountain, west of the temple.

Public affairs officer Karl Hunt said crews mapped the fire by air at 170 acres, according to KUTV.

As of 9 p.m., the fire was 0 percent contained, according to KUTV.

Hunt said crews would be out all night looking for hot spots and watching for flare-ups, according to KUTV.

Members of the public should not need to call 911 emergency dispatchers if they see embers burning, because crews will already be on scene working to contain those, according to KUTV, citing Hunt.

While wind was exaggerating the flames, officials did not anticipate that more homes would need to be evacuated, according to ABC4.

Unified Fire Authority told ABC4 that the fire is wind-driven and that multiple agencies are responding.

Jurisdiction over the fire has been turned over to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, according to KUTV.

The state has now taken control of the fire and will be on the scene "for a few days," according to Fox 13, citing officials.

A 7:26 p.m. update from the city's emergency alert system said forward progress was stopped and a total of 15 houses were evacuated in Saratoga Springs, according to ABC4.

Utah Fire Info confirmed that the evacuation order for Mahogany Street and Roman Street has also been lifted, according to ABC4.

Who had to leave and when they returned

City spokesperson AnnElise Harrison said homes on Mohogany Street southwest of the temple had been evacuated, according to KUTV.

"We've had about 12 homes in Saratoga Springs... that have been evacuated," Harrison said, according to KUTV.

Harrison said those are the only homes officials anticipated needing to be evacuated at that time, according to KUTV.

She said there were also homes near the Silver Lake neighborhood that had to be evacuated as well, according to KUTV.

ABC4 reported that 12 homes had been evacuated on Mahogany Drive, but no more were expected, as air support was redirecting the flames.

Evacuations were extended to include Roman Street, according to ABC4.

Fifteen homes on Mahogany and Roman streets in the neighborhood were under evacuation orders until residents were allowed to return after 7 p.m., according to Fox 13.

The evacuation order expired at 7 p.m., according to KUTV.

"We're grateful for our first responders and their work in keeping the community safe," local leaders wrote, according to Fox 13.

Aircraft, engines and road closures around the temple

Several fire surpassing helicopters were sent to the area to help extinguish the flames, according to KUTV.

Fire suppression helicopters could be seen circling the area, according to ABC4.

Air support was redirecting the flames, according to ABC4, citing Harrison.

Unified Fire Authority was reported on scene, according to ABC4.

Members of the public were asked to stay away from the area while crews worked to put out remaining hotspots, according to KUTV.

"Cars coming to look are hindering emergency vehicles," officials said on a social media post, according to KUTV.

People were asked to stay away from Mountain View Corridor south of Pony Express Parkway and the Brixton Park neighborhoods, according to KUTV.

The public was asked to avoid the portions of Mountain View Corridor south of Pony Express Parkway as crews responded to the fire, according to Fox 13.

The public was asked to avoid Mountain View Corridor as crews responded, according to affiliated Fox 13 coverage carried by The Salt Lake Tribune.

Saratoga Springs Fire & Rescue and Unified Fire Authority asked residents to avoid the area to allow crews space to work, according to ABC4.

Why Saratoga Springs was already talking evacuation routes

The Saratoga Springs Fire and Rescue Department held a public meeting on wildland prevention and preparation the night before the fire, according to ABC4 in its report titled "'Fires are preventable': Saratoga Springs Fire speaks on wildfire prevention, evacuation routes."

Fire Chief Kenny Johnson started the meeting by saying, "Most fires are preventable," according to ABC4.

Johnson said many wildfires are exacerbated by high winds, according to ABC4.

He referenced the 2020 Knolls fire, which forced 13,000 residents to evacuate and damaged over a dozen homes, according to ABC4.

With that wildfire, Johnson said crews were battling winds of up to 60 mph, according to ABC4.

Johnson said the city has limited roadways, according to ABC4.

"We understand that the city has limited roadways, and that's just the design of our city...there's only so many roads that we can have come in and out of the city, and that will always be the case," Johnson said, according to ABC4.

Johnson said it is essential for residents to consider the best route for them and to consider multiple routes out of their neighborhood and the city, according to ABC4.

He asked, "Even though we are improving the roads in the city, it is important to have an idea of, if an evacuation takes place, how do you get out of the city?" according to ABC4.

Resident Jenny Jenson attended the meeting to learn more about wildfire preparation, according to ABC4.

Jenson was evacuated during the 2020 Knolls fire and her home was threatened by that wildfire, according to ABC4.

"It was very unnerving," Jenson stated, according to ABC4.

Jenson said where she lives, the chance of fire is very high because brush surrounds the area, according to ABC4.

She said it was very hard to evacuate her neighborhood because there are two one-lane roads in and out and one was blocked off because of traffic, according to ABC4.

City staff explained how they would try to monitor evacuations closer and evacuate those who are closer first, according to ABC4, citing Jenson.

Target shooting, Red Flag behavior and Utah Fire Sense guidance

While target shooting is illegal within city limits, 80% of the wildfires started near Saratoga Springs over the last two years have been caused by target shooting and those fires have burned over 5,000 acres and led to thousands of evacuations, according to ABC4, citing officials.

Just hours before the planned meeting, Saratoga Springs Fire and Rescue responded to and extinguished a wildfire that was caused by target shooting, according to ABC4.

That earlier fire burned between four and five acres, according to ABC4.

Johnson urged people recreating in Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area to be cautious when shooting, according to ABC4.

He concluded, "Take the time to prepare before a wildfire occurs," according to ABC4.

Harrison said the city is encouraging people to use common sense on Red Flag Warning days by avoiding the creation of large fires and staying up to date on city code, according to ABC4.

Fire officials advised people to stay away from the scene, according to ABC4.

Utah Fire Sense says common prevention tactics can help prevent approximately 70% of all wildfires in the state, according to ABC4.

Utah Fire Sense advises only burning in permitted areas, completely dousing campfires, and clearing potential fire hazards such as dry grass when out shooting, parking, or building a campfire, according to ABC4.

Experts recommend checking vehicles to make sure cars will not ignite sparks or overheat, according to ABC4.

Drivers with trailer chains should ensure chains do not drag on roads, according to ABC4.

Drivers should also check brakes and tires to avoid excessive wear and tear, according to ABC4.

Utah Fire Sense also says individuals should watch current weather conditions and statewide fire restrictions to know what is and is not allowed, according to ABC4.

Sources referenced