SOUTHERN UTAH — Improved weather conditions and the deployment of increased resources are helping firefighters make progress in battling multiple wildland fires that have been burning throughout Southern Utah the past few days.
One fire has been officially declared out: the Dry Canyon Fire near Parowan is now 100 percent contained, according to an update posted at 4 p.m. Saturday on the Utah Fire Info state interagency website.
“Firefighters will remain on scene to extinguish remaining hot spots,” the update reads.
Following is an updated look at other wildland fires in the Southern Utah area, each of which remains active.
West Valley Fire
The West Valley Fire, which started Wednesday afternoon in the Pine Valley Mountain area about 10 miles north of St. George, had burned at least 7,724 acres as of Saturday, according to statement emailed to news media by U.S. Forest Service fire prevention officer Bode Mecham. As of Saturday evening, the fire was zero percent contained.
Authorities have determined the cause of the fire to be an abandoned campfire. The fire is reportedly burning amid mixed conifer, brush and grass. Fuel moisture is low, and the fire has been driven by winds and steep, mountainous terrain.
According to the update, Great Basin Team 6 assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. Saturday. The team, led by incident commander Brook Chadwick, comprises several agencies working within the Great Basin. A total of 321 personnel are actively working the fire as of Saturday. The incident command post is in Grass Valley.
“This is a full-suppression fire and the objective is 100 percent containment,” the statement reads. “The top priority for the Incident Management Team is the safety of fire personnel and the public.”
Saturday’s update highlighted the following recent progress on the West Valley Fire:
A crew of smokejumpers is working to secure the fire’s southern flank, or tail of the fire. Hotshot crews are constructing fireline directly on the fire’s edge where possible, working along the fire’s north and east flanks. Firefighters are being supported with helicopters dropping water on hot spots, and fixed-wing air tankers are available upon request. Hotshot Crews and Type 2 Initial Attack Crews are assessing structures about two miles from the fire’s north and west flanks, and clearing fuels along roads in the event that burning operations are necessary.
No evacuations are in place, but emergency area, road and trail closures remain in effect. Click here for details about closures. No injuries have been reported.
A public meeting regarding the West Valley Fire has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the New Harmony fire station, 133 E. Center St.
Black Mountain Fire
The Black Mountain Fire, which started just before 1 p.m. Thursday on state Route 130 south of Minersville was mapped at nearly 6,000 acres during an aerial survey Friday, fire officials said.
The blaze, which authorities said was ignited by sparks from a single-vehicle rollover, quickly spread through surrounding terrain, including grassy hills, sagebrush and juniper trees. It burned an estimated 4,000 acres within the first few hours. Although the point of origin was in Iron County, the fire is now also burning in Beaver County. Approximately 150 personnel are actively fighting the fire as of Saturday. The incident command post is at Minersville Elementary School.
An update sent Saturday from fire information officer Nick Howell described the fire’s current activity as “minimal,” with moderated weather conditions.
“Crews are in place, building fireline and working with heavy equipment,” the update said. “The fire remains 30 percent contained and firefighters are expecting to achieve more containment today.”
No evacuations or major road closures are in effect. State Route 130 remains open. However, officials said anyone desiring to travel on dirt roads leading into the fire will need to be escorted by fire personnel for safety reasons.
A seasonal cabin and a communication tower are the only structures currently threatened. No injuries have been reported.
Kayli Yardley, also a public information officer for the fire, thanked the residents of Minersville for their support of the firefighters the past couple days.
“The community has been awesome,” she said. “They’ve just been amazing, super supportive. The local volunteer fire department, everybody has stepped up. They’ve given, 100 percent plus. We appreciate everything that they’ve done.”
Willow Patch Fire
The Willow Patch Fire, which started Friday about 1 p.m. on state Route 24 in Sevier County near mile marker 19, has burned more than 1,000 acres and has zero containment as of Saturday afternoon. However, according to an update posted by fire officials at 11 a.m. Saturday, fire crews continue to make progress on the east and west sides of the fire.
No structures are currently threatened, but several power poles have reportedly been burned, causing electrical outages in portions of Wayne County. The fire is believed to be human caused, although the exact cause is still under investigation.
State Route 24 is currently open but could close at any time to ensure firefighter and public safety, the report said. Suggested alternate routes are Interstate 70 to state Route 72 to Loa and U.S. Route 89 south to Kingston Canyon.
Fire safety tips
Yardley, a public information officer for the Black Canyon Fire, offered a few safety reminders for the public.
“The motto that we’re really pushing right now is one less spark, one less wildfire,” Yardley said.
“Human caused doesn’t always mean matches or fireworks,” she said. “Make sure you check your trailer chains on your tires. Also, flat tires, blow outs, tend to cause just as many fires along the roadway as an abandoned campfire. So please be careful.”
“Also, with the upcoming holiday, please, if you must have fireworks, make sure that they’re in the designated areas, wherever your municipal cities are.”
Finally, Yardley cautioned against operating remote controlled aircraft drones in areas affected by fires.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said. “Especially right now where we have our air resources that are hitting the fire pretty hard. We’ll have to ground our air resources and that’s something that we don’t want to do right now.”
Check Utah Fire Info’s latest fire updates on Twitter @UtahWildfire.
Restrictions
Severe fire restrictions are already in place for much of the state. Central Utah Interagency Fire Managers announced the implementation of additional restrictions, including for Bureau of Land Management lands, effective Sunday. Check Utah Fire Info for additional information about fire restrictions.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Bureau of Land Management fire vehicles parked along state Route 130 near the place where the Black Mountain Fire started Thursday afternoon near Minersville, Utah, Photo taken June 29, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News Charred terrain along state Route 130 near the place where the Black Mountain Fire started Thursday afternoon near Minersville, Utah, Photo taken June 29, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News Charred terrain along state Route 130 near the place where the Black Mountain Fire started Thursday afternoon near Minersville, Utah, Photo taken June 29, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News Utah Highway Patrol vehicles near a road closure of state Route 24 caused by the Willow Patch Fire, Sevier County, Utah, June 29, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Mid Utah Radio, St. George News View of Black Mountain Fire on Mahogany Peak, near Minersville, Utah, June 28, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Chris Henrie via Utah Fire Info, St. George News Aerial view of an airplane dropping retardant on the Black Mountain Fire, near Minersville, Utah, June 29, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Skyler Dalton via Utah Fire Info, St. George News Aerial view of Black Mountain Fire, near Minersville, Utah, June 29, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Brandon Davis via Utah Fire Info, St. George News Aerial view of Black Mountain Fire, near Minersville, Utah, June 29, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Brandon Davis via Utah Fire Info, St. George News Map of Black Mountain Fire, near Minersville, Utah, as of June 29, 2018 | Image courtesy of Utah Fire Info, St. George News View of smoke from West Valley Fire as seen from Interstate 15 near Leeds, Utah, June 30, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
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I appreciate the updates.