EUREKA, Utah — The raging Cherry and Iron wildfires threatening residents in Juab and Tooele counties have now burned a combined 71,000 acres as of Saturday morning.
All evacuation orders for residents of Eureka, Mammoth and Silver City remain in place, as do those for anyone near Vernon Reservoir and the Lofgreen area in Tooele County.
The Juab County Sheriff's Office issued its order Friday night, and all residents were told to head eastbound on Highway 6, where a shelter was established at an Elberta church.
Eureka City Corporation has announced that electric service has been shut off to Eureka City.
Two fires started Friday just southwest of Eureka and later merged into the Cherry Fire, immediately burning 13,000 acres in an 11-mile run for two hours. On Saturday, the fire is now at 30,766 acres and zero percent contained.
The Iron Fire is at 40,861 acres and 38% contained.
"Despite extreme fire weather on Friday, firefighters reported no significant perimeter movement on the Iron Fire," officials reported. "Most fire activity remained well inside the existing perimeter, with isolated smoke, torching, and burning in interior juniper pockets. Crews continued to close containment gaps, strengthen fireline, and prepare for another day of critical fire weather."
According to official, resources on the Iron Fire are are now being reorganized to support the Cherry Fire.
Those who evacuated in Tooele County are taking shelter at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 280 North Main Street in Vernon.
A Lofgreen family taking shelter at the church was unsure what was next.
"My house could be gone tomorrow... tonight... you don't know," said Jared Richardson.
Richardson has lived in the area for 12 years and moved there for the quiet, which has now been shattered.
"When we left, our house was not far from the fire," he said. "You could see it. When I had left from helping a neighbor, it looked like the smoke was covering our house at that point.
"I don't know whether it was flames or smoke."
State Route 36 between mileposts 0 and 20, south of Vernon, is closed due to the wildfire. Officials ask the public to avoid the area. In addition, the fire has caused power outages from Vernon to Utah State Route 36, where the fire overtook the highway.
'Good to be home,' Eureka residents elated to return home after Iron Fire evacuation
The fires came a day after Eureka residents were able to return home following the fight on Iron Fire
Anyone with questions regarding the fires in Juab and Tooele Counties, or the fires near Eureka, is asked to contact the Iron Fire Information Line at 435-513-8859.
