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I-80 to be closed from 9 am to 9 pm Friday for firefighting efforts
Aug 7, 2020, 7:45 AM | Updated: 9:44 am
SALT LAKE CITY — I-80 will be closed between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Foothill Drive to Parley’s Summit on Friday as crews continue to fight the 200-acre, human-caused Parley’s Fire.
Kate Webb with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands says that while fire crews were able to make good progress in their efforts yesterday, the fire is still 0% contained and crews will have a lot of work to do today.
UPDATE on #ParleysFire: I-80 closing from Foothill Dr. to Parleys Summit starting at 9 AM and lasting until 9 PM. pic.twitter.com/0QzoOzNZv6
— John Wojcik (@JWojcikKSL) August 7, 2020
“It looks very quiet this morning. That doesn’t mean that the firefight is over. Crews are still going to be engaged and there’s a lot of work left to do,” Webb told reporters on Friday.
She said firefighters will be working on securing the perimeters of the fire today. Webb says that they will have three helicopters working in the air, supported by six engines and multiple crews on the ground. Due to that response, Webb said the 12 miles of I-80 will be closed for safety reasons.
“We are flying aircraft over I-80 and that’s a hazard. We want to provide for the safety of everyone traveling and the firefighters in the area,” Webb continued.
Watch: Chopper 5 above Parley’s Fire
Currently, there are no injuries or reports of structures damaged. However, evacuations in the Mt. Aire area are still in effect.
Utah Fire says the fire was human-caused and is still under investigation but are asking that anyone who saw a large dark brown dump truck with dragging chains pass through the area on Thursday to contact them at 801-538-5555.
Fire investigators on the human-caused #ParleysFire are asking anyone who saw a large dump truck, dark brown in color dragging chains traveling up I-80 in Parleys on Thursday Aug. 6th to make contact at 801-538-5555. #ffslkw
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 7, 2020
#ParleysFire Update: minimal fire activity overnight with no new growth. Interior pockets of green vegetation continued to burn. Still estimated at 200 acres, 0% contained. Fire was human-caused and the investigation is on-going. #ffslkw
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 7, 2020
Alternate routes
The KSL Traffic Center recommends I-84 near Ogden or Provo Canyon as alternate travel routes.
