Fire updates: Crews expect U.S. Highway 6 to 'be closed for a while'

Estimated read time: 1-2 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.

SALT LAKE CITY — Both directions of U.S. Highway 6 remain closed Monday from Thistle (U.S. Highway 89 junction) to Castle Gate (U.S. Highway 191 junction) as a wildfire continues to burn in southeast Utah County, according to Utah Department of Transportation officials.

Authorities closed the highway because of the Coal Hollow Fire Sunday afternoon. It remains unclear when it will reopen while crews battle the fire and UDOT officials urge motorists to use I-70 as an alternate route.

"Just so you know, that Highway 6 is going to be closed for a while. Plan appropriately," said Rob Powell, operations sections chief for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, in a video posted by Utah Fire Info Monday.

In addition, Diamond Fork Canyon, east to Sheep Creek Road and up to Springville Crossings were evacuated Sunday evening, according to Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon.

The Coal Hollow Fire has burned more than 22,000 acres since it began by a lightning strike Aug. 4, according to Dan Dallas, incident commander for Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team.

Utah Fire Info reports that the Coal Hollow Fire is one of six active wildfires burning in the state Monday.

Sunday's wildfire coverage

This blog will be updated throughout the day.

Monday, 10:52pm

Coal Hollow Fire grows to more than 22K acres; evacuations remain the same

The Coal Hollow Fire burned 22,178 acres, or about 35 square miles, and was 2 percent contained Monday evening. Officials said all evacuations due to the fire remain the same.

Monday, 06:06pm

Officials to hold 2 community meetings on Coal Hollow Fire

Officials will hold two community meetings this week to update the public on the Coal Hollow Fire. The first meeting will take place Tuesday at the Carbon County Fairgrounds, located at 450 S. Fairgrounds Road in Price, at 4:30 p.m., fire officials announced on Twitter. The second meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at Maple Mountain High School, located at 51 N. 2550 East in Spanish Fork, at 5 p.m. Officials plan to broadcast the meeting on Facebook and Twitter barring any connection issues.

#CoalHollowFire Evacuation Map - Please check back daily to learn of changes to this information! pic.twitter.com/7bp2lmvYTn
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 13, 2018

Monday, 04:47pm

Video shows growth of Coal Hollow Fire burning southwest of Tucker, Utah

A video tweeted by Utah Fire Info Monday afternoon shows the fire growth of the Coal Hollow Fire in Utah County. The video shows a line of flames burning in the northeast portion of the fire, south of U.S. Highway 6 and Tucker.

There is fire activity right now in Division Q. The dozer and handlines are holding so far. #CoalHollowFire pic.twitter.com/AAbUwA3cbZ
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) August 13, 2018

As of Monday morning, the fire has burned more 20,362 acres, or more than 30 square miles, and is 4 percent contained, according to Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team.

Monday, 01:42pm

7 small fires burned 2 acres near Lost Creek Reservoir, officials say

Emergency crews responding to a report of a brush fire burning north of Croydon near Lost Creek Reservoir Monday morning found seven small fires burning in a two-acre area, Ian Nelson, Emergency Manager for Morgan County. Nelson said the call came in shortly before 11:10 a.m. and the fires ranged between 10 square feet to 4,356 square feet in size and were extinguished with the help of nearby residents using buckets of water. The cause of the fires remains unknown and under investigation, Nelson added.

Monday, 01:15pm

Bear Trap Fire remains 0 percent contained

Crews battling the Bear Trap Fire reported fire activity was "moderate turning to low by late afternoon" in certain areas of the fire, Bureau of Indian Affairs' Forestry & Wildland Fire officials wrote in a Facebook post Monday. The lightning-caused blaze has blackened more than 6,500 acres since it started in eastern Utah on July 21. Officials say a private ranch and a tribal youth camp remain threatened by the fire that is 0 percent contained.

Monday, 12:20pm

Crews expect U.S. Highway 6 to 'be closed for a while'

Power poles were destroyed along U.S. Highway 6 when the Coal Hollow Fire crossed the highway Sunday, Rob Powell, operations sections chief for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, explained in a video posted by Utah Fire Info Monday. Powell broke down where the fire went Sunday and progress in fighting the fire. He said "a whole bunch of folks heading back to Salt Lake" were still on the highway when a "hard closure" was imposed Sunday afternoon; however, everyone was evacuated from the highway safely. The fire crossed the highway near Rought Hollow south of Teat Mountain and was moving north toward that mountain area, according to a map released by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. Other areas of the highway east of where the fire crossed remained threatened Monday, but haven't crossed, Powell said. "Just so you know, that Highway 6 is going to be closed for a while. Plan appropriately," Powell said. Powell added thousands of livestock were being evacuated by the northeastern line of the fire, which is located near Dry Hollow south of Tucker, Utah County.

Monday, 11:46am

New fire starts near Lost Creek Reservoir in Morgan County

A fire started Monday morning north of Croydon and near Lost Creek Reservoir in Morgan County, according to Jason Curry, spokesman for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. A size estimate of the fire wasn't immediately known, and Curry said no structures were threatened. He said a couple of engines were responding to the fire. More information was expected to be released later Monday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Monday, 11:15am

New growth forming at Dollar Ridge Fire burn scar

With fire comes rebirth and while the Dollar Ridge Fire picked back up and continues to burn, areas within burn scar are beginning to grow again, according to Utah Fire Info. The agency posted photos from the burn scar that show plants starting to grow alongside burnt trees. The fire, which is now believed to have burned 65,000 acres since it started July 1, remains 90 percent contained Monday, according to Utah Fire Info. Thunderstorms were expected Monday, which officials said could affect firefighting operations. More than 250 personnel were assigned to battling the fire.

Monday, 09:50am

Coal Hollow Fire (southeast of Spanish Fork) burns 20K acres; thunderstorms forecasted Monday

The Coal Hollow Fire has now burned about 20,352 acres, or about 31.8 square miles, since it started Aug. 4, according to a statement by Dan Dallas, incident commander for Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. That estimate is nearly 1,000 acres from Sunday and Dallas reported that afternoon thunderstorms near the fire Sunday "caused a spike in fire activity." "The thunderstorms sat directly over the fire causing winds from all directions," Dallas added. "As conditions changed, crews disengaged and moved to safety zones until it was safe to continue working along the fire line." The fire burning in southeast Utah County also crossed U.S. Highway 6 Sunday evening, which prompted the highway closure. More thunderstorms were expected in the area Monday, which Dallas noted: "will likely produce measurable rainfall." However, crews are also expecting wind gusts upwards of 40 mph.

Fire updates: Crews expect U.S. Highway 6 to 'be closed for a while'

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted - Aug. 13, 2018 at 10:55 p.m.

Show 3 more videos

Sunday's wildfire coverage

US Highway 6 closed due to Coal Hollow Fire; evacuations ordered in Diamond Fork Canyon

Coal Hollow Fire grows to more than 22K acres; evacuations remain the same

Officials to hold 2 community meetings on Coal Hollow Fire

Video shows growth of Coal Hollow Fire burning southwest of Tucker, Utah

7 small fires burned 2 acres near Lost Creek Reservoir, officials say

Bear Trap Fire remains 0 percent contained

Crews expect U.S. Highway 6 to 'be closed for a while'

New fire starts near Lost Creek Reservoir in Morgan County

New growth forming at Dollar Ridge Fire burn scar

Coal Hollow Fire (southeast of Spanish Fork) burns 20K acres; thunderstorms forecasted Monday

Photos

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Cyclist injured in SLC hit-and-run; white truck wanted

Cache County man charged with automobile homicide in ATV rollover death

Ex-psychologist pleads guilty to child sex crimes, may walk free within months behind bars

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast

Fire updates: Crews expect U.S. Highway 6 to 'be closed for a while'

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted - Aug. 13, 2018 at 10:55 p.m.

+ Show 3 more videos

Sunday's wildfire coverage

US Highway 6 closed due to Coal Hollow Fire; evacuations ordered in Diamond Fork Canyon

Coal Hollow Fire grows to more than 22K acres; evacuations remain the same

Officials to hold 2 community meetings on Coal Hollow Fire

Video shows growth of Coal Hollow Fire burning southwest of Tucker, Utah

7 small fires burned 2 acres near Lost Creek Reservoir, officials say

Bear Trap Fire remains 0 percent contained

Crews expect U.S. Highway 6 to 'be closed for a while'

New fire starts near Lost Creek Reservoir in Morgan County

New growth forming at Dollar Ridge Fire burn scar

Coal Hollow Fire (southeast of Spanish Fork) burns 20K acres; thunderstorms forecasted Monday

Photos

Most recent Utah stories

Probation ordered for Orem woman who attempted to shoot her phone

Ballet West mourns loss of beloved costume designer days before 'Nutcracker' opening

Skiers camp out for first chair at the start of Snowbasin's 85th season

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Cyclist injured in SLC hit-and-run; white truck wanted

Cache County man charged with automobile homicide in ATV rollover death

Ex-psychologist pleads guilty to child sex crimes, may walk free within months behind bars

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast

Show 3 more videos