This article has been removed.
Author: Bill Gabbert
Extreme weather expected on Trail Mountain Fire Thursday
It began as a prescribed fire that escaped on June 6 in central Utah
Above: A pyrocumulus cloud forms over the Trail Mountain Fire, as seen from Joes Valley Reservoir June 13, 2018. Inciweb photo.
At 9:31 a.m. on Thursday the relative humidity at the Mill Fork Canyon weather station near the Trail Mountain Fire in Utah had already dropped to 12 percent and will likely get even lower with the predicted Red Flag Warning conditions. During the night it never got above 30 percent. A mapping flight Wednesday evening showed that the fire had burned 9,554 acres.
The forecast for Thursday calls for sustained 23 mph winds out of the southwest and west with gusts up to 38 mph. The Haines Index will max out at 6, an indication of atmospheric instability which can be conducive to rapid fire growth. On Friday the wind should increase with 22 to 29 mph southwest winds gusting above 40 mph under cloudy skies but there will be a 33 percent chance of showers.
In an update Thursday morning the incident management team said, “It is likely the fire will continue to spread north along Highway 31, where timber is denser.”
Highway 31 is closed as firefighters work to keep the fire from crossing the road. An evacuation order is in effect.
The origin of the Trail Mountain Fire was a prescribed fire that escaped control on the Manti-La Sal National Forest northwest of Huntington, Utah on June 6.
Brush fire destroys homes in Moab, Utah
The Pack Creek Fire burned approximately eight residences Tuesday
A fast moving vegetation fire spread from a wooded area into a Moab neighborhood at about 6 p.m. Tuesday. Soon after it started west of the Cinema Court apartment complex law enforcement officers began evacuating residents in the path of the fire as firefighters began suppression efforts. Late Tuesday night the Police Department reported that a preliminary survey indicates that eight homes, one garage, and two parking canopies were destroyed.
Five firefighters and a small number of civilians were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation or heat exhaustion.
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire with assistance from other agencies.
BREAKING: Moab fire causing evacuations as homes are consumed. pic.twitter.com/DQMwztyXWH
— Heidi Hatch (@tvheidihatch) June 13, 2018
Team coverage continues on #2NEWSAM : @RaeOnTheNews is live in #Moab as daylight shows the damage caused by the fast-moving fire. Officials expect to release new information this morning. https://t.co/uhMPbMBS0G @KUTV2News @moabpolice @CityofMoab pic.twitter.com/oM7CuyQLdt
— Jeremy Harris (@JeremyHarrisTV) June 13, 2018
Getting our first look at the fire damage in Moab now. Last update was 8 homes destroyed. Awaiting @CityofMoab news conference this morning. I’ll be live on @KSL5TV at 12 and 12:30. pic.twitter.com/zAHRhndIUf
— Sean Moody (@SeanMoodyKSL) June 13, 2018
Buffalo Mountain Fire causes evacuations near Silverthorne, Colo.
Above: The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at the Buffalo Mountain Fire near Silverthorne, Colorado at 1:39 p.m. MDT June 12, 2018
(Originally published at 4:03 p.m. MDT June 12, 2018)
The Buffalo Mountain Fire started today, June 12, on the west side of Silverthorne, Colorado north of Frisco near Buffalo Mountain. At about 6:30 p.m. the Forest Service announced that it had burned about 90 acres.
The name was changed from “Buffalo Fire” to “Buffalo Mountain Fire” Tuesday afternoon.
Approximately 1,400 homes are under evacuation orders, which are likely to remain in effect through Tuesday night at least.
The local District Ranger said at a community meeting that the fuel reduction projects they had been working on for years are paying off, helping to protect structures.
#BuffaloFire community meeting underway in Silverthorne now: https://t.co/pIoEvmviz8 pic.twitter.com/30bbIqJMNf
— CBSDenver (@CBSDenver) June 13, 2018
Pic of the #BuffaloFire as seen from the Golden Horseshoe area east of Breck. pic.twitter.com/GZbnRapN92
— Jeff Cospolich (@JeffCospolich) June 12, 2018
An onlooker in Summit County watches the #BuffaloFire https://t.co/1TZeuMyLQR pic.twitter.com/jwVEIkIvz9
— CBSDenver (@CBSDenver) June 12, 2018
Fire north of Durango continues westward expansion
(UPDATED at 7:03 a.m. MDT June 13, 2018)
Most of the spread of the 416 Fire north of Durango, Colorado Tuesday and Tuesday night was on the west side where it continues to grow onto the higher slopes in terrain that becomes increasingly difficult for ground-based firefighters. The fire ate up about 1,500 acres to bring the total to 25,900 acres.
It was announced Tuesday night that the evacuation order for residents in San Juan County will lift at 8 a.m. on June 13. Residents will need to present a Rapid Tag resident credentials to return. The residences in San Juan County will remain on pre-evacuation notice.
Resources on the 416 Fire include 9 Type 1 hand crews, 14 Type 2 hand crews, 55 engines, 3 dozers, and 4 water tenders for a total of 1,028 personnel. There are 203 personnel on the Burro Fire.
There was very little growth or activity on the Burro Fire Tuesday.
Fire management authorities are not releasing the cause of either fire.
A photo I took two days ago from the 416 Fire. If you look at the photo with the flames ripping the hillside, you can see the little white dots right in front of the fire. Those are the helmets of the the Hotshots, an elite team that battle high priority fires. #416Fire pic.twitter.com/XWYxuluGzJ
— Hank Blum (@hankblum) June 13, 2018
(Originally published at 12:12 p.m. MDT June 12, 2018)
The wildfire with the odd name, “416”, continues to be very active especially on the west side. Over the past two days it has grown two miles closer to Durango, Colorado on the south side and is now seven miles from the north edge of the city, covering a total of 23,378 acres.
The west side of the 416 Fire has been the location of most of the activity recently where it has spread seven miles west of Highway 550 and to within six miles of another blaze, the 2,337-acre Burro Fire.
The west side of the 416 Fire is burning at over 8,000 feet in terrain that is difficult for ground resources. An 11,000 foot ridge separates the two fires and in normal times should serve as a barrier preventing them from merging, but the way wildfires have been behaving in recent years is anything but “normal”.
Todd Pechota’s Type 1 Incident Management Team is handling both fires.
The weather forecast for the fire area through Thursday calls for south and southwest winds of less than 10 mph, temperatures in the low 80’s, and 9 to 12 percent relative humidity. Beginning Thursday there is a chance of thunderstorms.
Prescribed fire escapes in Manti-La Sal National Forest
The Trail Mountain Fire has burned 2,637 acres in central Utah
Above: Map showing heat on the Trail Mountain Fire detected by a satellite at 2:18 a.m. MDT June 12, 2018.
A prescribed fire ignited in the Manti-La Sal National Forest in central Utah has burned 2,637 acres eight miles northwest of Huntington.
U.S. Forest Service personnel began the project on Tuesday June 5 after conducting a test burn the day before. When they had to suppress a seven-acre spot fire on Wednesday they stopped igniting the prescribed fire, but that evening the fire ran to the top of East Mountain. It is now known as the Trail Mountain Fire.
On Thursday a Red Flag Warning for strong wind was in effect and the fire continued to grow until it stopped temporarily at a high voltage power line. At that time a Fire Weather Watch predicted elevated fire danger on Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10.
The fire was very active on Sunday, lofting burning embers that started spot fires a mile ahead. At least one cabin and some outbuildings have burned.
Below is information released by fire officials on Monday June 11:
The Trail Mountain Fire moved into Meetinghouse Canyon Sunday after it was hit with wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour. Winds grounded all air support and caused the fire to run north and east. Currently at 2,637 acres, and 10% containment, the fire has created heavy smoke that has been visible from local communities in Emery, Carbon and Sanpete counties.
The fire is burning in mixed conifer, with large amounts of dead and down timber. It is spotting up to a mile, leaving islands of green aspen and sage untouched. A cabin was burned in the Whetstone Creek area and other outbuildings in that area are threatened. A high voltage line is in the path of the fire, but has not sustained significant damage. The powerline remains off.There are 259 personnel assigned to the fire, five helicopters and 11 engines. There is Temporary Flight Restriction over the fire. No drones are allowed on the fire.
Tim Roide’s Type 2 Incident Management Team will be assuming command of the fire, taking over from a Type 3 Team.
The Emery County Progress has an excellent article about the fire written by Patsy Stoddard. It is one of the best I have seen about a wildfire — very thorough and detailed.
Smoke blowing into Colorado from the fire is visible from space.
The #TrailMountainFire video from @KSLChopper5 has burned more than 2000 acres and has burned a cabin and other outbuildings threatened info from @UtahWildfire #KSLAM pic.twitter.com/gUuiaBOlCx
— KSL_Photography (@KSL_Photography) June 12, 2018