The Left Fork Fire burning 10 miles southwest of Bryce Canyon National Park reached 50% containment Wednesday morning thanks to sustained rainfall, which helped suppress heat sources throughout the blaze, Utah Interagency Fire reported.
The wildfire had scorched 4,254 acres in Dixie National Forest as of Wednesday morning. Officials said rainfall and cloud cover in the area should help subdue the fire and allow crews to further contain the blaze.
Still, foliage in the area is “critically dry” and crews were reporting “creeping and torching” near the fire’s western flank. An aircraft was available to drop water should flames try to jump containment, officials said.
No injuries or damaged structures have been reported throughout the wildfire’s duration. The small community of Bryce Woodland Estates was evacuated on June 21, but that order has since been lifted.
(Utah Interagency Fire) The Left Fork Fire perimeter, 40% contained as of Tuesday.
While rain was crucial for minimizing the wildfire, it also made roads potentially treacherous for responders.
“Fire Managers are being proactive with the predicted rain to assure firefighters remain safe in these difficult conditions,” Color Country Interagency Fire — which responds to incidents in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties — reported in an update Tuesday, when the fire reached 40% containment. “Crews may be pulled off the line if conditions necessitate.”
Left Fork Fire crews had reached 13% containment on Monday before the rain hit.
