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Residents allowed to return home after wildfire forced evacuations in Summit County

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A plane drops fire retardant on the fire in Tollgate canyon near Wanship. July 30, 2018.

Summit County residents evacuated from their homes near Wanship when a wildfire threatened have been allowed to return, although the firefighters continue to battle to contain the blaze.

The fire had burned 287 acres in the Toll Gate Canyon area north of Interstate 80 between Park City and Coalville, Summit County officials said Monday night.

“There have been shifting winds all afternoon, and the fire’s been all over the place,” said Summit County spokeswoman Krachel Murdock.

Four homes on Forest Meadow Road and the High West Distillery at Blue Sky Ranch were evacuated, but residents were allowed to return shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday.


About 400 homes, including about 200 vacation homes, were threatened, and residents were not allowed into the area for several hours on Monday. About 4 p.m., a controlled backburn was started to prevent the fire from spreading toward I-80, and the highway remained open.

Traffic into Tollgate Canyon was blocked at Interstate 80 exit 150 Monday afternoon, but the road reopened about 8 p.m., county officials announced.

The fire was 10 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, and crews remained on the scene throughout the night to keep flames away from residences.