Hot temperatures and dry conditions covered Utah in a volatile blanket of wildfire danger last week.
Containment efforts over the weekend were directed towards the three existing wildfires, The Silver King Fire, the Graff Point Fire, and the Babylon Fire, as well as Graff Point fire, which sparked on Friday.
Small progress for Silver King Fire
Utah’s biggest active wildfire, the Silver King Fire, was 8% contained as of Monday. It has been burning since near Fishlake National Forest and Marysvale, Utah, since July 5.
Its flames continue to smolder across roughly 17,648 acres of steep, rugged terrain. However, Great Basin Incident Management Team spokesperson Kevin Abel says he is “confident that we can hold the line.”
Firefighting efforts rely primarily on nimble hand crews who can traverse the mountains more effectively than large equipment. As of Monday morning, 703 people were deployed for Silver King’s containment.
Teams are concentrating on the northeast perimeter of the fire, where a containment line has been established. Marysvale, located on the eastern edge of the fire, is also protected by a containment line. In that area, “the fire is still sitting where it has been for days,” said Abel.
Weather remains a crucial but unpredictable factor of wildfire fighting, said Abel. He hopes for humidity to weaken the flames, but “if we don’t get that moisture, and we get the high winds and dry lightning, it could be a different story,” he said. The Central Utah Fire Interagency reported a chance of thunderstorms and gusty winds through Monday.
On the edges of the fire, a relationship of understanding is developing between Marysvale residents and firefighting crews. Town residents, who know the difficulty of the land, “recognize the hard work firefighters are doing,” said Abel.
Fishlake National Forest has issued a closure order, and fire restrictions that can be found here. The Castle Rock Campground remains open.
Newly sparked Graff Point Fire grows
(Utah Fire Info) The Graff Point Fire burning near Cedar City is believed to have been sparked by lightning on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Utah’s newest wildfire now covers over 500 acres near Cedar City. When it was first reported Friday, it spanned about 70-100 acres. As of Monday it is still uncontained.
To address the spreading fire, a complex incident management team has taken over containment efforts. Their presence is partially due to Deer Springs’ threatening proximity to homes, as it burns about 5 miles away from Cedar City, said team spokesperson Mike Ferris.
Despite the fire’s growing area, Ferris is positive about containment efforts. “There’s progress being made. We have about 150-160 personnel on scene, and we have more resources ordered,” he said.
Cedar City is protected by a strong line — although not quite a contained line — on the east. In general, “the fire activity has moderated. It’s burned into some old fire scars, which helps the fire kind of lay down when it hits those scars,” said Ferris.
The remaining concern is weather. With approaching seasonal monsoons, winds may spread the fire further, said Ferris.
There have been no additional evacuations or closures since the initial notice released Saturday.
The complex incident management team handling the Graff Point Fire, along with their interagency fire partners, will be hosting a community meeting at the Heritage Theater Center in Cedar City on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. There, the community will receive an update about suppression efforts and fire activity. Those interested may also view the meeting virtually over Zoom.
Deer Springs firefighting sees some success
Over the weekend, the threat of the Deer Springs Fire significantly diminished as containment jumped from 20% to 70%. The fire now spans 11,783 acres near Kane County, Utah.
The July 7 fire appeared to be human caused and “ramped up rather quickly,” said David Hercher, a Bureau of Land Management spokesperson for the area.
But after successful containment efforts, the fire has been downgraded from a type 3 fire to a type 4 fire, explained Hercher. The change indicates that fewer resources will be needed for containment and that local authorities will manage efforts.
Recreational activities in the Nephi Pasture Region and along Skutumpah Road are still discouraged.
Babylon Fire nears full containment
Burning since July 5 near Blanding, Utah, the Babylon Fire is now 80% contained. The fire has not spread in five days.
Firefighters still work toward full containment by mopping up heat spots and dousing any remaining heat sources, according to a Forest Service news release.
Now, efforts turn toward rehabbing and replanting the area. The fire opened the canopy and burned in a “mosaic vegetation pattern,” promoting regrowth and Aspen regeneration, the release stated.
The public is still reminded to avoid the impacted area and be aware of the continuing dry conditions.
Correction • July 16, 2:15 p.m.: This story has been updated to correct the name of Marysvale.