Wildfire breaks out on Ensign Peak near Utah State Capitol building

UPDATE 10:06 P.M. 7/20 — Officials offered another update on the Sandhurst Fire later in the evening on Saturday.

As of Saturday night, both mandatory and voluntary evacuations remained in effect, and residents have been encouraged to find somewhere to stay overnight.

Bob Silverthorne with the Salt Lake City Fire Department told ABC4.com that the fire was believed to be contained, but it wasn’t yet under control on Saturday night.

Silverthorne said he estimated crews would continue to fight the fire overnight and into the next day.

ORIGINAL STORY

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A wildfire has started on Ensign Peak, just above the Utah State Capitol building in Salt Lake City, according to Utah Fire Info.

The new fire, which is being called the “Sandhurst Fire,” is reportedly showing active fire behavior and is visible from I-15. According to the Utah Wildfire Dashboard, the fire was estimated to be at 150 acres, but the Salt Lake City Fire Department said that number is not yet confirmed.

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Mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been initiated. Officials said about 40 homes in the Dorchester area are under the mandatory evacuation order.

“The incident command for the Sandhurt Fire has ordered mandatory evacuations for everyone on Sandhurt Drive, north of Dorchester Drive. This includes Twickenham Drive,” Salt Lake City Police posted on social media. “Voluntary evacuations include people north of Ensign Vista along East Capitol to North Cove.”

The Capitol building is reportedly being used as an evacuation shelter at this time.

“The Capitol is now open for evacuates. City Creek Canyon is now closed due to the Sandhurst Fire. Canyon users should avoid the area,” SLCPD stated.

Radio towers in the area are threatened at this time. The City Creek watershed is also currently being threatened.

“Multiple aircraft enroute. Multi agency response. Cause is unknown. Please stay away from the area for firefighter and public safety,” Utah Fire Info posted on social media.

Bob Silverthorne with the Salt Lake City Fire Department told ABC4.com that more than 100 firefighters from several different agencies were responding to the Sandhurst Fire the day it broke out. He said the cause and origin of the fire were not yet determined on Saturday afternoon.

“If you don’t need to be up anywhere above the Capitol, then just try to stay out of the area,” Silverthorne said.

Officials with Salt Lake County Emergency Management have issued instructions for what to do if ordered to evacuate:

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“Be extra cautious,” Silverthorne said. “I usually tell people to start gathering the important stuff now, because when you have to pull the trigger and actually take off, then you don’t want to be scrambling at the moment to get the things that are most important to you.”

Silverthorne said the lives of family members and pets should be the highest priority, but important documents, credit cards, computers, and extra clothes and food are all good things to have ready to go.

“So, if and when you evacuate, you have what you need,” Silverthorne said. “All the other stuff is just stuff … we can replace that.”

SLCPD asked the public to leave the area of Memory Grove Park on Saturday afternoon so fire helicopters could access water amid firefighters’ efforts to gain control of the blaze.

“Please avoid the area to allow firefighters enough space to work safely,” SLCPD stated on social media.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

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