Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
EAST CARBON, Carbon County — Two Hotshot teams that had been assigned to the Taylor Mountain Road Fire north of Vernal have been released to respond to a new wildfire burning 5 miles east of East Carbon.
The lightning-sparked Patmos Fire, burning on top of Patmos Ridge, is not threatening any structures, according to Clark Maughan, director of the Moab Interagency Fire Center.
The first report of the fire came in Monday, Maughan said, and by 2 p.m. Tuesday it had burned an estimated 4 acres of grass and timber in an area that "is really a steep piece of ground."
"We're trying to figure out a safe way to get people to the fire," Maughan said. "This is steep, rugged terrain."
Two helicopters are dropping water on the fire, while two Hotshot crews, an engine and a squad of firefighters work their way into the area, said Maughan, who noted that the Hotshot crews were sent from Vernal to East Carbon to fight the Patmos Fire.
Kelsey Birchell, spokeswoman for the Type III team fighting the Taylor Mountain Road Fire in Uintah County, confirmed that some resources had been released Tuesday because fire official no longer need them or because they are needed elsewhere.
The Taylor Mountain Road Fire started Saturday, destroyed three homes, damaged an unknown number of structures and forced the evacuation of campers from Steinaker State Park. On Tuesday morning it was 50 percent contained, Birchell said.
Steinaker State Park remains closed because firefighters and helicopter crews are using it as a staging area, according to a tweet from Utah State Parks and Recreation.
The cause of the Taylor Mountain Road Fire is still under investigation. It could be weeks before that probe is finished, Birchell said.
