This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Winds on Monday afternoon pushed a wildfire away from homes in Santaquin, avoiding evacuations for now.
Meanwhile, a fire ignited Monday afternoon above Alpine. Lone Peak Fire Chief Brad Freeman said the blaze, near Horse Tail Falls, appeared to be about 30 acres as of 4:15 p.m. It was not threatening structures, but he was concerned about hikers and campers. Firefighters and police were deploying to the area.
Santaquin police reported on their Facebook page that the fire there was 2 1/2 miles from homes, with winds blowing the flames away.
Forest Service spokesman Reid Shelley said late Monday afternoon that the Santaquin fire, burning on a steep hillside near the mouth of Santaquin Canyon and Canyon Road, had consumed about 250 acres and was not threatening structures. The blaze is burning in the new vegetation growth that resulted from the 2001 Molly Fire.
Shelly said a hand crew was already on the scene and four more had been ordered. A single-engine airplane and a helicopter were dropping water. Local fire departments have sent engines and tankers, he said. Shelly said an investigator was being sent to the scene to determine what ignited the fire.
Canyon Road was closed to traffic, police said.
Several agencies hade responded and are working together to contain the fire. People were being asked to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to access the area quickly.