A"firenado,"a large wildfire caught up in a swift tornado, was spotted in eastern Utah, near the Colorado border, last weekend. The fire-induced tornado developed within the Deer Creek Fire just after 1 p.m. MT on Saturday, July 12, according to theNational Weather Service(NWS). The "firenado," which was given an EF-2 rating, lasted for about 12 minutes. Tornados ranked as anEF-2are deemed "significant" and exhibit a wind speed of 111-136 miles per hour. No injuries were reported by fire personnel, but buildings in the area did sustain fire and wind damage, according to the NWS. "In a state built by pioneers who prepared for hard seasons, we must meet this moment with the same resolve," Utah Sen. John Curtis wrote in anX poston Thursday, July 17. "I urge every Utahn to take seriously the fire restrictions currently in place." More news:Man charged with impersonating a firefighter; fire truck reportedly seized Deer Creek Fire started on Thursday, July 10 and as of Friday, July 18, had burned more than 15,600 acres, according toUtah Fire. The cause of the fire remains undetermined. The fire is located within Deer Creek State Park, along the border of Utah and Colorado. As of Friday, July 18, 11% of Deer Creek Fire was contained, according toUtah Fire. The Montrose County Sheriff's Office has issuedpre-evacuationsfor areas around Deer Creek State Park. Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to check for local updates, prepare go-kits of supplies, put animal evacuation plans into place, inform loved ones of evacuation plans and leave areas that feel unsafe. To sign up for emergency alerts, visit the Montrose County Sheriff's Office atmontrosecountysheriffsoffice.com/montrose-alerts/. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her atgcross@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Firenado' forms during Deer Creek Fire in Utah: Watch video
