All Summit County residents evacuated due to the Rocky Canyon Fire were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon.
Summit County lifted the evacuation order from the western side of Henefer’s Main Street to the Morgan County line around 3:30 p.m.
Authorities stressed the fire is still a threat and urged residents to stay prepared to leave again if conditions change.
Only the north end of East Canyon State Park in Morgan County remained evacuated. The area is inaccessible because of road closures.
Fire officials estimate at least 500 people were under evacuations as the Rocky Canyon Fire grew. Thousands of livestock were moved to safety as well.
Some within the evacuation area decided not to leave. Summit County Search and Rescue Operations Manager Canice Harte said that although the sheriff’s office wants everyone to be safe, residents have the right to refuse.
“Residents, at the end of the day, can decide what they want to do for themselves: whether they stay or go,” he said on KPCW's “Local News Hour” Thursday. “But every home, we can assure, was knocked on or contacted at least once.”
Many evacuees found shelter with friends or family in the close-knit community. The Red Cross said it did not see any visitors at the shelter in Coalville’s LDS Church stake center.
However, Coalville’s Best Western filled about 30 rooms the first two nights of the evacuation order. Front desk manager Mark Madia said the hotel reduced rates to $80 for evacuees.
“Most of them were just trying to hang on to some faith,” he said. “A lot of them kind of knew, maybe, they weren't going to be impacted, but yet they were evacuated just for precautionary sake.”
Fire crews have seen favorable weather in recent days, with cloud cover, cooler temperature and rain.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Rocky Canyon Fire had burned more than 15,600 acres and was 29% contained.
