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Wildfire in Parleys Canyon Closes I-80

**UPDATE:  I-80 will be closed Friday at 9am, according to Unified Fire Authority, to support firefighting operations.  They don't know how long the highway will be shut down.  If you need to get from Park City to Salt Lake City, take an alternate route.**

A fast-moving wildfire in Parleys Canyon sparked about 6:30pm Thursday evening.  About an hour later, Interstate 80 between Park City and Salt Lake City was closed to vehicles so fire fighters could battle the blaze on the ground and from the air.  The highway reopened around 9:30pm.

The fire started near the East Canyon exit at milepost 134. The Utah Department of Transportation reported eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 were closed at the mouth of the canyon, at milepost 127 in Salt Lake County, and westbound lanes were closed at the Jeremy Ranch exit at milepost 142 in Summit County.

By 8pm, Unified Fire Authority reported the fire was at 200 acres and growing. Video footage from UFA showed airplanes dropping fire retardant close to the highway. UFA also said a mandatory evacuation order was in effect for homes in the Mount Aire area, and an evacuation center has been set up at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake Public Utilities said the Little Dell Recreation area, which is across the highway from the fire, would be closed Friday for water dipping and fire suppression efforts.

By 9:30pm, Unified Fire Authority said the fire was 0% contained and more firefighting resources would be on the scene Friday. No word yet on the cause of the fire.