LOGAN — Firefighters successfully contained a wind-driven wildfire early Saturday that burned an estimated 30 to 40 acres, forced mass evacuations and damaged structures and vehicles in northeast Logan.
Logan Mayor Mark Anderson was one of the many residents who were evacuated from their homes after the Canyon Road Fire started. He talked about watching the flames quickly spread along the hillside above his home, fueled by the dry brush and gusting winds.
“I knew there were firefighters right there as the fire was moving up the hillside,” Anderson tearfully recalled. “And I thought, oh my gosh, I hope those firefighters got out of the way. I was so concerned about them. But our emergency crews, police and fire, they did such a great job getting people out of their homes, making sure everybody knew that they were in an area that could have been impacted. And, uh, yeah, those firefighters just they did such a great job. I just talked to the fire chief and he said no injuries and minimal damage to a few structures.”
The blaze ignited late Friday night and spread rapidly through dry grass. Logan City police issued a mandatory evacuation order just before 11 p.m. for a 1-mile radius around 600 East and Canyon Road, later expanding the zone to 1.5 miles. Fire agencies from across Cache Valley rushed to the scene to assist. High winds initially hampered firefighting efforts, but crews managed to hold the flames north of Canyon Road, preventing the fire from entering Logan Canyon.
Residents evacuated along Canyon Road in the Island neighborhood spent the night with others or at emergency shelters that were set up overnight. Utah State University students and residents living in campus housing along U.S. Highway 89 (400 North) were permitted to return to their rooms at 1:30 a.m. after crews halted the fire’s advance.
Anderson said he was grateful for neighboring communities that spent the night helping firefighting efforts. There was also help from state agencies that assisted local crews.
“I know we have some amazing neighbors that all showed up to help and to support,” explained Anderson. “USU police were all over there. And they just did an amazing job to help support, so that our firefighters could really dig in there. And we had state support like immediately. The state fire task force was just like right there and got into it as quickly as they possibly could get here. So we are blessed and fortunate and just very grateful for everyone’s work.”
By 2 a.m. Saturday, firefighters had encircled the perimeter and stopped the fire’s forward progress. Officials have not confirmed the exact number of buildings lost, though scanner traffic during the height of the fire indicated at least one house roof and several cars had burned. Quick responses from emergency crews successfully protected local landmarks, including Herm’s Inn and Rudy’s Greenhouse.
Emergency personnel established temporary shelters at two local meetinghouses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later opened Green Canyon High School for overnight accommodation.
Although smoke has still been visible rising from the blackened terrain, officials confirmed the fire is no longer spreading. Photos and videos from the area show multiple burned out cars.
Anderson said fire officials will be allowing evacuated residents back into their homes throughout the day.