SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Campers have been evacuated after a new wildfire grew to over 1,500 acres in Summit County Wednesday afternoon. Officials say structures are threatened.
Beulah Fire is burning east of Mirror Lake Highway, about 3 to 4 miles east of Manorlands.
Map of the fire's approximate location
According to Trident Sensing, which maps the fire from the air for officials, more than 1,500 acres of land have burned so far. Officials add that structures are being threatened by the fire.
Evacuations are in place for Bear River and Mill Creek, a tributary of E. Fork Bear River; a DPS helicopter has been requested to assist campers in the area with evacuations.
One man was trapped in the flames of the Beulah Fire on Thursday afternoon and had to be safely airlifted by a DPS helicopter. FOX 13 News caught up with him as he got off the helicopter to safety.
Watch: Utah fisherman rescued from Beulah Fire
“I saw a whole bunch of choppers all of a sudden and was wondering what was going on,” Jason Vaneps stated. “Then I took a look down the canyon and I saw smoke, so I hurried up and packed up, heading down the canyon about a half mile.”
Vaneps was backpacking up Allsop Lake, about a 9-mile hike. Thursday morning, he set up to fish at the lake, catching a bunch until everything rapidly changed. He said smoke and fire surrounded him. “Once I knew I couldn’t get out, I was waving my shirt and everything else.”
He said he was probably within a quarter of a mile of the fire, but he said he was lucky enough to be picked up by Search and Rescue. It wasn’t an easy trip out, though. He said the wind was so bad, causing a lot of turbulence and up and down movement in the helicopter.
Vaneps said he’s just happy he made it out safely. “Got me out of there, and here I am.”
The public is being asked to avoid the area while crews work to contain the fire.
Stay with fox13now.com and FOX 13 News for the latest on this breaking news story
