SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC 4 News) – A state emergency was in effect for the Saratoga Springs area as the Dump Fire continued to grow.
Erratic winds and dry conditions have spread the fire more than 1,500 acres and has forced the evacuations of more than 2,000 homes. The fire was upgraded to a level 2 fire allowing for additional man power to be called in. Some 400 to 500 additional firefighters will be on the front line Saturday morning.
Residents in the Saratoga Hills and Kiowa Valley neighborhoods, as well as everyone north of Silver Lake Road, have been evacuated. A shelter has been set up at Westlake High school.
Bethany Starr lives in Saratoga Hills and was one the first evacuees at Westlake High. “This morning we woke up and the wind picked up and it was raining ash,” said Starr. "The sky was black.”
It was around 9:30 when firefighters came and knocked on Starr’s door. “The fire department and the sheriff knocked on our door and told us we needed to get out now,” said Starr.
She grabbed what she could and left everything else behind. Starr said, “Everything that is important to me is right here. I got my dogs, my kids, and my husband. “
Starr wasn’t sleeping at the shelter at Westlake High School Friday night, but many others will be. The Red Cross has brought in more than 100 cots to handle the evacuees and they say they have enough food for everyone.
