The Tollgate Canyon fire has burned 287 acres, with containment at just 10%.
The Tollgate Canyon fire started around 2:30 pm on Monday and was originally reported to be just 10 acres. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire.
Summit County public information officer Krachel Murdock says the flames started near the entrance into Tollgate Canyon.
“Definitely started down in the bottom and somewhere probably closer to the entrance. Even for those who were out there last night watching this start—it definitely originated over there somewhere by the entrance and with the wind, moved east.”
The flames made their way Northeast away from the Tollgate Canyon road but alongside I-80. Concerns that the flames might jump the freeway caused crews to employ a preventative back-burn.
“This is where they actually set a fire closer to the freeway with the intent of having it burn up the hillside, but in this case because they’ve started it they can also control it. The original fire was coming down the hillside. I would say probably at 4:00 and 4:30 in the afternoon it was making its way down towards I-80 and heading east. Just east of the exit there. That’s when the firefighters made this decision to attack with a back-burn.” Murdock continued, “This really is what ended up putting up a big show. A lot of smoke and really big flames came out of this. What happens is, this fire that they can control starts heading up the hill and when it meets the original fire the two essentially extinguish themselves. They run out of vegetation to burn, if you will. But by doing that they did prevent it from jumping I-80 and they are calling that back-burn a success for that reason.”
The fire caused evacuation of four homes on Forest Meadow Road as well as the Blue Sky/Highwest Distillery.
“Originally we had a fire line that was built up there in that area of Forest Meadow Road. When the winds were going pretty good yesterday afternoon the fire actually jumped that fire line. The fire crews just in using extreme precaution felt it would be best to evacuate those four homes on Forest Meadow Road. In the end, those homes were fine, the fire did not get super close. Of course, close is relative. If there are flames coming towards your house, it doesn’t matter how close, too close is too close. Those homes were evacuated as a precaution.” Murdock said, “We’ve had a little bit of confusion with that evacuation. Just in that Tollgate, being the community that it is; where it has that one main entrance. Even though there was not a larger evacuation for the community. What was in place was a do not enter policy. UHP (Utah Highway Patrol) and our Sheriff Deputies were out all afternoon not allowing people to enter the community. But if anybody was in there they did have the option to shelter in place. In terms of us coming in and asking people to leave, those four homes were the only four affected.”
The flames also threatened a shed and a cell tower, fire crews were able to protect those structures.
While access on Tollgate Canyon Road was closed during the afternoon; Summit County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to escort some residents back to their homes to safely retrieve their pets and loved ones.
“In the earlier part of the afternoon if there was someone who came through really concerned about a pet left behind. We even had a pregnant spouse who was home but didn’t have a vehicle. Of course, the husband down there on the off-ramp with the rest of us was greatly concerned.” Murdock explained, “So, in those circumstances the Sheriff’s Department was working really great to help escort people up into their home.”
Around 7:30 pm last evening residents living in Tollgate were allowed to return to their homes. High West Distillery is also open.
“Last night after residents were allowed to return, at that point I had been up above up in the community. I was coming back down and out and I was passing residents as they were coming in for the first time. It was really emotional to watch their faces as they came in. A couple of times, there would be cars that stopped right on the road, taking in that view that you see for the first time coming off I-80.” Murdock continued, “This really was a show for those passing along down on the freeway. You see that’s the entrance to your neighborhood. It will take your breath away when you go in there and see that whole mountain side is scarred black.”
