People under evacuation orders have been asked not to return home until 5 p.m. Thursday
(Benjamin Zack | Special to The Tribune) Homes near the Willard Peak Fire near North Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.
More than 150 families remained away from their North Ogden homes on Thursday, displaced overnight because of a wildfire.
No homes have been lost in the Willard Peak Fire, according to a Thursday morning update on the Utah Fire Info website. Officials for the American Red Cross said the evacuation order had been extended to 5 p.m. Thursday.
The fire remained 0% contained, and had grown to 754 acres, Utah Fire Info said in its update. Hot weather and steep terrain near the peak are making the fire challenging to fight. White pillars of smoke could be seen and smelled in the area.
(Benjamin Zack | Special to The Tribune) Crews battle the Willard Peak Fire near North Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.
North Ogden City, on its Facebook account, said there is a standing evacuation order for residents east of 1050 East between 2850 North and 3700 North.
Kirsti Dunn, who was managing the Red Cross shelter manager at a Pleasant View meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said about 10 people — along with their dogs and cats — have utilized the shelter.
“We’re planning to stay open as long as we’re needed here and make sure that our clients are safe and secure and have what they need,” she said.
(Brock Marchant | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eamonn Bent of North Ogden, who had to evacuate from his home during the Willard Peak Fire, is seen with his dog, Tali, on Aug. 14, 2025.
One evacuee, Eamonn Bent, was walking his Mini Aussie, Tali, around the church’s lawn Thursday morning.
He said he was at work when the evacuation order came through, and he suddenly faced the stress of knowing Tali was at home.
Bent lives with his parents, who were out of town, and left work early. He said he coordinated with his parents to make sure he took everything he needed — including Tali.
“It was a little stressful working and knowing she was at home,” he said.
Utah Fire Info reported the Willard Peak Fire started around 3 p.m. Wednesday, stemming from a vehicle fire.
(Benjamin Zack | Special to The Tribune) A home near the Willard Peak Fire near North Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.
Officials in North Ogden City posted an all-caps message on the city’s Facebook page Thursday morning, warning that “THE WILLARD PEAK FIRE IS SERIOUS.”
Eventually, the city’s social-media person turned off the caps-lock key to deliver this message of community support: “Whether you’re on the front lines, helping neighbors, or just trying to make sense of what’s going on, please remember, kindness matters. A lot.”
This is a developing story, and will be updated.
(Benjamin Zack | Special to The Tribune) Homes and fire hoses near the Willard Peak Fire near North Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.