A vicious wildfire in west-central Utah forced hundreds of residents to evacuate on Sunday.

“The Iron Fire is burning in Juab County, about 28 miles southwest of Provo, and officials said on Sunday that flames are bearing down on Eureka, Utah, a small town in the East Tintic Mountains,” ABC News reports.

Good Morning America shared an update Monday morning:

ABC News shared further:

The fire rapidly grew from about 5,000 acres on Saturday to more than 13,000 overnight.

“That’s way closer than anybody wants it to be,” Daylan Hermanson, a Eureka resident, told ABC Salt Lake City affiliate station KTVX, as he watched flames creep over a mountainside headed for Eureka.

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Kelly Wicken, a spokesperson for the Utah Division of Forestry, said the blaze started on private land and has now spread across Juab and two other counties, crossing onto federal land and shutting down a highway.

Before the fire, the National Weather Service had issued red flag fire danger warnings for a large part of the state.

Utah is also in the middle of a severe drought that has dried out vegetation, providing fuel for any fires.

“More than 75% of Utah’s wildfires are human-caused, which means prevention starts with all of us. As hot, dry, and windy conditions continue across our state, please use extra caution outdoors and help reduce the risk of new fires,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said.

“Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and emergency personnel working tirelessly to protect Utah,” he added.

USA TODAY has more:

The Juab County Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation order June 20, warning residents in Eureka that conditions were “life-threatening and changing rapidly” and instructing them to leave immediately by designated routes. Shelters were opened at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapels in the communities of Elberta and Goshen.

“Evacuation orders are still in place due to ongoing potential fire threats. Until the fire crews establish full containment around the borders of Eureka the evacuation order will stay in place,” the sheriff’s office said in an update June 21, adding that no homes had been lost in the blaze.

The Iron Fire erupted amid heightened wildfire danger across the state. On June 18, Utah Fire Info announced “Stage 1 Fire Restrictions” would take effect across many areas in the state beginning June 19. A day later, authorities issued additional red flag warnings for multiple counties, including Juab.

“Another warning is in effect for Washington, Beaver, Iron, Juab, Millard, and Sanpete counties,” Utah Fire Info said in a post on social media on June 19. “Gusty winds, low humidity, and dry fuels mean fires can spread fast. Please avoid activities that can cause a spark.”

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