Exploding fire in Alpine. Help from Saratoga Springs and SL County is here twitpic.com/a3kbkw
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Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) July 03, 2012Sadly echoing coverage of the tragic fires in Waldo Canyon, Colo., citizen journalists are taking to Twitter and other social media outlets to provide photos and updates on a wildfire spreading through Alpine, Utah.
Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz has taken to Twitter to provide updates.
Flames are massive and easily visible miles away—
Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) July 03, 2012
Started near water tank by rodeo grounds—
Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) July 03, 2012
Others are providing first-hand accounts from the scene as well. At least one subdivision has been evacuated.
The view from my parents' playhouse in Orem. #AlpineFire instagr.am/p/Mos3VsOBzC/—
Jenny (@Jenndola) July 03, 2012
View of #AlpineFire #QuailFire from Lehi http://t.co/GjSHQ5xW—
Dustin Kendall (@devdustin) July 03, 2012
Un. Real. SCARY. RT @KSL5TV: Fire erupted in Alpine – viewers telling us it looks like a volcano #quailfire #alpinefire instagr.am/p/MosMGGqGJe/—
John Y. (@John_Y) July 03, 2012
This fire has just exploded in the last 20 minutes. #QuailFire lockerz.com/s/222062094—
jason thompson (@usujason) July 03, 2012
Dipping for water at the stake center twitpic.com/a3laxv—
Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) July 03, 2012
RT @DaleMurphy3: View from our front porch.. Whoa.. po.st/IHSZH3 #QuailFire—
Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) July 03, 2012
@nicknewman801 same fire was dubbed #alpinefire before official #quailfire naming—
Jeremy Salmon (@KingRanch51) July 03, 2012
Local media are reporting the cause as unknown, but some point to a construction site near the area.
#quailfire was started at a construction site from a backhoe striking a rock which then caught weeds on fire. #alpinefire #utah—
Blake Malan (@BlakeMalan) July 04, 2012
#alpinefire was started from a construction crew's excavator. Not fireworks.—
Russell Parrish (@russ_parrish) July 03, 2012
Alpine was one of many Utah cities which had banned fireworks.
Two young hikers are reported safe.
Two day hikers, I was told teenagers, have been located and are out of harms way—
Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) July 04, 2012
Kids are running down the trail now. Helicopter is watching them. Will be ok.—
Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) July 04, 2012
KSL TV confirms that the fire was started by a backhoe and also reports that no structures are in immediate danger.
Confirmed: #quailfire was started by a track hoe at a construction site. #alpinefire—
KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) July 04, 2012
UPDATE: No structures currently being threatened at this time in #quailfire #alpinefire—
KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) July 04, 2012
Evacuations are to stay in effect. Police report that around 80 homes were evacuated.
Quail fire evacuations in place until further notice—
UtahFireInfo (@UtahWildfire) July 04, 2012
Twitchy will provide updates as the story develops.