A fire that started Saturday in Utah County was burning at least 2 miles from the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple, even as it was described as near the landmark and visible on Utah Department of Transportation cameras at Redwood Road and Parkway Boulevard.
Smoke could be seen behind the temple to the west of the building, with the wind carrying it north, underscoring how quickly the blaze drew attention across Saratoga Springs. Police ordered the evacuation of Mahogany Street around 4 p.m. near Brixton Park as crews watched the fire spread.
Investigators later said a separate fire that spread to more than 50 acres appeared to have been started by a remote-controlled airplane, a reminder of how fast small incidents can turn into larger ones when conditions are dry. Fire officials have said below-average snowpack has left more dry vegetation on the ground, raising the risk of fast-moving grass fires across Utah County and beyond.
The Saratoga Springs fire is still missing the two facts people most want next: what sparked it and whether crews have fully contained it. Officials have not answered either question, and the next update will determine whether Saturday’s evacuation remained a precaution or became the first step in a larger response.
