Huge fire in the western part of the salt lake valley

Large fire burning near Camp Williams forces hundreds of evacuations
September 19th, 2010 @ 9:09pm
CAMP WILLIAMS -- Crews are working to contain a large, fast-moving fire burning at Camp Williams Sunday. Hundreds of homes in Herriman are being evacuated.

Herriman City Mayor Josh Mills has declared a state of emergency.

Unified Fire Capt. Brad Taylor says residents of 232 homes in The Cove at Herriman Springs and all 500 homes in the High Country Estates II subdivision are under mandatory evacuation. The city has now expanded the mandatory evacuation order to all homes south of Emmeline Drive, Butterfield Parkway and Blackridge Reservoir, as well as everything on Rose Canyon Road.

Westbound 13400 South at 5600 West is now being shut down as well. City officials are asking residents in Salt Lake County to stay off their cell phones so emergency information can be transmitted.

According to Lt. Col. Hank McIntire with the Utah National Guard, the fire broke out at the Camp Williams machine gun range during a training exercise just before 3:30 p.m. The flames are spreading quickly.

Helicopters have been brought in to drop buckets of water and fire retardant to fight the blaze. At least five crews are at the scene near Arnold Hollow just outside of Rose Canyon monitoring the fire.

An evacuation site has been set up at Herriman High School at 11917 S. 6000 West. The site was originally established at Fort Herriman Middle School but had to be moved when the fire got too close.

Horses can be evacuated to W&M Butterfield Park at 6212 W. 14200 South in Herriman.

Lt. Don Hutson with the Unified Police Department says one woman has been treated for smoke inhalation. City officials are asking everyone to stay away from Herriman because congestion is becoming an issue.

We have a crew at the scene and will bring you the most updated details as they become available.

Stay tuned to KSL.com, KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM and KSL TV for the latest updates.