Utah wildfire updates: More than 20 structures in Sanpete County pre-evacuation area

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SALT LAKE CITY — Possible thunderstorms are forecasted Friday and over the weekend for many of the areas where fires are burning in the state, which poses potential help and threats for those fighting the wildfires.

Utah Fire Info officials said Friday storms forecasted for Duchesne County could help dampen the fire and help further slow it down. However, it brings another possible hurdle with possible flash flooding where the fire has already burned.

“Firefighters are concerned about and prepared for potential flash flooding events,” Utah Fire Info officials said on Twitter Friday morning.

In the meantime, the large Dollar Ridge Fire and other fires in the state continued to grow. Hundreds of crews remain dispatched to various fires Friday.

This blog will be updated throughout the day.

Friday, 08:42pm

New fire sparks south of Minersville in Iron County

A new fire started Friday evening south of the town of Minersville in southwest Utah. The Horse Valley Fire is currently burning between 300 and 500 acres, according to Utah fire officials. The fire started about 7 p.m. and was 0 percent contained as of 8:30 p.m. Friday. No structures were being threatened by the fire, officials said. The fire was burning in pinyon and juniper forest, as well as brush and grass. About 80 firefighters had been assigned to the fire, officials said.

Interagency firefighters responding to #HorseValleyFire 10 miles southwest of Minersville, UT. Estimated at 300-500 acres. No structures threatened. Under Investigation. No containment. #CCDHowell
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) July 21, 2018

Friday, 02:29pm

Cove Creek Fire (20 miles north of Beaver) now 40 acres

The Cove Creek Fire burning about 20 miles north of Beaver grew slightly from Thursday, Utah Fire Info officials said Friday. The fire grew from 36 to 40 acres. Officials said it is visible from I-70 and I-15.

Friday, 02:00pm

Pre-evacuation set up because of Crooked Creek Fire in Sanpete County

A pre-evacuation zone in the area of the Crooked Creek Fire has more than 20 structures within it, Sanpete County Sheriff's Office officials tweeted Friday. The area includes upper Dry Creek and Tucker Flats in the county.

#crookedcreekfire More than 20 structures in the pre evacuation area including upper Dry Creek and Tucker Flats. Stay tuned with @UtahWildfire for updates and information.
— Sanpete Sheriff (@SanpeteSheriff) July 20, 2018

Friday, 01:17pm

Invited guests now allowed in pre-evacuation areas of Duchesne County

Invited guests, including family members, insurance adjusters and contractors are now allowed to enter some of the Dollar Ridge Fire evacuation zones along with property owners, Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office officials wrote in a Facebook post Friday. Those zones where invited guests are allowed are D1, D2 and D4 (on the map here) within Duchesne County, which is currently on pre-evacuation status. The area remains closed to the general public. The sheriff’s office added that property owners should still be prepared for another evacuation just in case it is ordered again. It added deputies will be patrolling the area and may ask people to identify where they are traveling to and from or who you are visiting within the three zones. The fire, which sparked July 1, remained 84 percent contained Friday.

Friday, 11:43am

Section of Manti-La Sal National Forest closed due to Crooked Creek Fire (east of Milburn, Sanpete County)

A portion of the Manti-La Sal National Forest is closed because of a growing wildfire burning near Milburn, Sanpete County, officials said. The Oak Creek Trail from its junction with Forest Road 0138 and then the junction from Forest Road 0138 to Skyline Drive is closed, according to forest officials. North to South San Pitch Creek to the eastern forest boundary, and from there to the intersection with Forest Trail 0053 is also closed. Utah Fire Info officials tweeted a map of the closed area.

#CrookedCreekFire prompts a closure order on the Manti-La Sal National Forest: https://t.co/wiMN38Nf0l pic.twitter.com/KzORgKeq1q
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) July 20, 2018

Click here to read the full closure report.

Friday, 09:43am

Crooked Creek Fire (east of Milburn, Sanpete County) now 178 acres

The Crooked Creek Fire burning in Sanpete County has grown from 25 to 178 acres and is 0 percent contained as of Friday morning, according to Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands officials. Smoke is expected to be visible from most of Sanpete County, including Milburn, Mt. Pleasant, Fairview and Ephraim. Access to Skyline Drive to Road 0138 is closed. More than 100 personnel, including two hotshot crews, two engines and two helicopters, were assigned to fight the fire Friday.

Friday, 09:15am

Storms could help fight slightly growing Dollar Ridge Fire (near Fruitland, Duchesne County) but could also produce flash floods

The Dollar Fire grew by another 16 acres after “several days of accumulated heating, drying and wind aligned Thursday, producing noticeable fire behavior,” Utah Fire Info wrote in an update Friday. However, the growth Thursday pales in comparison to the damage the fire has already done in the area south of Fruitland in Duchesne and Wasatch counties. The fire has burned an estimated 56,763 acres, or about 88.7 square miles, and destroyed more than 70 homes and hundreds of other structures. Officials reported that smoke will likely be visible near Calf Hollow east of Timber Canyon Road in Duchesne County. They said if the weather and wind cooperate, they will execute an aerial ignition to burn approximately 100 acres to prevent further growth. However, with thunderstorms forecasted for the area throughout the weekend, officials hoped the storms will slow down fire activity, although they added there is concern about potential flash floods. The report stated firefighters are prepared for the possibility of flash floods. The fire is 84 percent contained, which is a 1 percent drop (about 600 acres) from previous assessments after “more accurate mapping,” according to the report. A little more than 350 personnel were assigned to fight the fire Friday.

Utah wildfire updates: More than 20 structures in Sanpete County pre-evacuation area

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted - July 20, 2018 at 8:51 p.m.

New fire sparks south of Minersville in Iron County

Cove Creek Fire (20 miles north of Beaver) now 40 acres

Pre-evacuation set up because of Crooked Creek Fire in Sanpete County

Invited guests now allowed in pre-evacuation areas of Duchesne County

Section of Manti-La Sal National Forest closed due to Crooked Creek Fire (east of Milburn, Sanpete County)

Crooked Creek Fire (east of Milburn, Sanpete County) now 178 acres

Storms could help fight slightly growing Dollar Ridge Fire (near Fruitland, Duchesne County) but could also produce flash floods

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Utah wildfire updates: More than 20 structures in Sanpete County pre-evacuation area

By Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted - July 20, 2018 at 8:51 p.m.

New fire sparks south of Minersville in Iron County

Cove Creek Fire (20 miles north of Beaver) now 40 acres

Pre-evacuation set up because of Crooked Creek Fire in Sanpete County

Invited guests now allowed in pre-evacuation areas of Duchesne County

Section of Manti-La Sal National Forest closed due to Crooked Creek Fire (east of Milburn, Sanpete County)

Crooked Creek Fire (east of Milburn, Sanpete County) now 178 acres

Storms could help fight slightly growing Dollar Ridge Fire (near Fruitland, Duchesne County) but could also produce flash floods

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