Wildfire in Utah forces hundreds to flee homes

SPANISH FORK, Utah — A swift Utah wildfire fanned by high winds has more than doubled in size as it burned through dry terrain and forced evacuations of hundreds of homes, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday.

The blaze south of Spanish Fork grew to 84 square miles from 31 square miles Thursday night when authorities ordered evacuations in three communities. Spanish Fork is about 50 minutes south of Salt Lake City. No homes have been reported damaged.

The hot, windy weather that has created tinderbox conditions is expected to last into the weekend.

The fire is also threatening to converge with a second, smaller fire.

Sparked by lightning in a forested, rough terrain on Sept. 6, the fire raged out of control amid high winds and was only 2 percent contained Friday.