Utah 'Machine Gun' Fire Forces Mass Evacuation

Salt Lake City suburb clears 1,400 homes
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 20, 2010 8:12 AM CDT

At least 1,400 families in a suburb of Salt Lake City have been forced to evacuate their homes today, thanks to a wildfire that started at a machine gun training range. The fire has spread to more than 300 acres, according to NPR, powered by winds of up to 50mph. Handlers are also rushing to evacuate a nearby equestrian park, where 100 horses are in danger.

“It was kind of a perfect storm scenario where once the fire started on the firing range at the National Guard base, the wind really kicked up,” said one sheriff. “Literally, the fire was coming down into the backyards of many of these residents.” (More wildfires stories.)

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