Two more Utah communities were given mandatory evacuation orders Sunday afternoon as a result of the ongoing Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires in Utah and Juab counties.
Residents of Diamond Fork and Sheep Creek were officially ordered to evacuate as of 2 p.m. Sunday, according to Sgt. Spencer Cannon, public information officer for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO). Those areas were put on a pre-evacuation notice Saturday evening.
Evacuation efforts were complicated by a renewed shutdown of U.S. Highway 6. The highway had been temporarily re-opened for travel through Spanish Fork Canyon on Sunday morning, but just hours later was closed again. Cannon subsequently noted that the fire had jumped the highway.
The Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires have burned more than 86,000 acres combined, and have forced more than 6,000 people from their homes. Previous evacuations have taken place in the Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge and Covered Bridge communities, in addition to those living along U.S. 89 from Nebo Creek to Thistle Junction, according to UCSO.
Cannon tweeted a thanks to those who had offered their support.
“The American Red Cross is saying thanks to the generosity of local citizens they no longer need donations," he wrote. "There is a waiting list of people offering space in their homes for evacuees. Thank you all!”