The Twitchell Canyon fire, 7 miles east of Manderfield, Utah, started from two lightning strikes on July 20. A July 27 official U. S. Forest Service update on the fire said it had burned 600 acres and that there would be no more updates on the fire “unless significant activity occurs”.
Significant activity has occurred. Allowed to “burn naturally” and “managed for multiple objectives” at least it the early stages, it has now burned 33,071 acres and over the last four days has required the intermittent total or partial closure of a 23-mile section of Interstate 70 east of the intersection with I-15 in Utah.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire south of I-70 over the weekend, and as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday the Interstate was reopened to both east and west-bound traffic — at least for now.
Here is an excerpt from an 8 a.m. update on Inciweb on Tuesday:
Windy red flag conditions again yesterday, along with existing dry fuels, caused more extreme fire behavior with 200 foot flame lengths observed and frequent spotting, especially on the eastern edge of the south flank of the fire. The Twitchell Canyon Fire area is now approximately 33,071 acres.
Firefighters completed line construction along the south and southwest edges of the fire near Twitchell Canyon with the intention of slowing fire spread towards private property to the west.
Another Red Flag Warning – a weather descriptor used to indicate the high probability for extreme burning conditions – has been issued for the fire area by the National Weather Service today with a possible chance of moisture in the afternoon.
Protection of private property with an emphasis placed on public and firefighter safety remains the focus of fire managers.
Ourada’s Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 transitioned this morning at 0600 with Whalen’s Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 who will now take over management of the Twitchell Canyon Fire.
Tuesday’s Situation Report says two structures have burned, $9,800,000 of taxpayers funds have been expended, and…
State park and numerous structures threatened. Major power corridor threatened. Portion of Interstate 70 has been closed.
A fire strategy of less than full suppression has it’s place, but only if you are damn sure, damn sure, that you can keep the fire within a pre-defined maximum management area, and that the fire does not end up costing the taxpayers millions of dollars or burning private land or structures.
One of the keys to a successful less than full suppression fire is how many days there are until a “fire season ending event”, usually defined by cold and rainy weather. In most areas, a fire that starts on July 20 has many days to burn until cold and rainy weather sets in.
I wonder how much it would have cost the taxpayers if it was initially suppressed at 1/4 acre in the early stages of detection? By allowing it to burn, did it REALLY meet real world and scientifically based objectives?
I also wonder about the increased risks to both firefighters and the public after a fire burns for two months unabated “for some reason”…. and finally “someone” decides to take positive suppression action.
It’s a lot safer to suppress a 1/4 acre lightning caused wildfire in the monsoon rains while it’s small… than try to “manage” an ever expanding wildfire 6 weeks later after it threatens firefighter safety; interface communities; and valuable watersheds, timber, and T&E species.
I don’t think the stand replacing runs are “meeting resource objectives” in anyone’s book. JMHO… Just one current “fire managers” thoughts in the continued nonsense going on / being allowed.
Who would have thought that a fire that started on July 20th in mountainous terrain with continuity of fuel in bone-dry Utah would not self-extinguish itself in a week or two. Long-term fire behavior is very difficult to anticipate with those conditions? It is only public lands and taxpayer dollars. It is still two or three weeks before wetting rains could occur. Is there anyone in the Fed system that will not be able to “cycle through” this one? Check with your dispatch centers for “to fill” positions, time is running out. $Merry Christmas$