Utah Fire Info – includes current info on wildfires, restrictions on high risk activities such as FIREWORKS; shooting firearms, etc.

InciWeb – another source of current info on wildfires all over the country. The link will take you directly to the page for Utah’s fires.

Evacuation Plan – suggestions for advance preparations
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The fire to the south noted yesterday has been named the Lake Canyon Fire. Here’s the text of the summary at Utah Fire Info for your convenience:

“Duchesne, Utah … A fire in Lake Canyon was reported the afternoon of July 13 that is about 30 acres in size and burning in heavy timber. The fire is approximately 20 miles southwest of Duchesne, Utah on the Roosevelt/Duchesne Ranger District of the Ashley National Forest. The fire is burning in a remote location in the right fork of Lake Canyon near the end of Forest Road 175. The nearest structures are located five miles to the northeast. Smoke from the fire may be visible on U.S. Hwy 191, located six miles east of the fire. Presently, no closures are in effect. However, fire crews are asking individuals to please avoid this area in order to ensure firefighter access and allow passage of fire equipment. Currently, there are two 10 person crews, five engines, two single engine air tankers, and one light helicopter working on the fire. ”

It looks like the area may be getting rain from the same storm we’ve been enjoying in the Fruitland area all night.

I just looked out the window to the south (we’re in the Lower Red Creek Canyon in Fruitland) and saw smoke–charactertic white and brown. The Fire Center said it’s a new fire so not much is known yet. Seems it’s on the South Unit of the Ashley NF on a ridge. Both Lake Canyon and Avintaquin were mentioned as locations. It’s not yet posted on Utah Fire Info, but it is being investigated and they said resources have been sent. If anyone has solid facts, please go to the “Contact Us” page and send us an email.

New fire in Herriman (Rosecrest Fire) causing evacuations. Wolf Den Fire near Big Park in Uintah County just started today, too. There are now eight wildfires burning across Utah. All but one are in the northern half of the
state.

As you may have seen already, what we’ve all been fearing has happened a few miles north of Neola: fireworks have started a blaze. This fire is called the Pole Creek Fire. The latest news shows it at almost 2,000 acres, 0% containment, and causing evacuations on the Elk Horn Loop. Especially with July 4 and 24 coming up, PLEASE help everyone you can to realize how dangerous and potentially destructive such activities as setting off fireworks are at this time! Below is a link to the notice that puts a prohibition on using fireworks due to extreme fire danger. Also BE FIRE WISE about cigarettes, shooting guns, campfires, burning weeds and ditches, dragging trailer chains and any other situations that can cause sparks from moving vehicles, as well as parking hot vehicles over dry grass, and so on.

The Church Camp Fire in Argyle Canyon has grown to 5,400 acres and is 10% contained. Thank you and be safe, firefighters!

Here’s a link to the Fire Restrictions signed into effect on June 22, 2012.
Bookmark Utah Fire Info to keep checking on the Church Camp Fire (Argyle Canyon). As of this morning, 12 structures were reported burned, but no thankfully, no injuries. There’s talk of closing US 191, but as of this afternoon, we can’t find news of that happening. Probably good to avoid it if you can, at least because of delays.

Brent Woffinden, Chair of the Argyle Canyon Fire Council, emailed this to us about the Argyle Canyon fire last evening:

Things aren’t looking too great for a lot of people. I know of a few cabins gone and it’s heading for a lot more. We had so much in the way of dead trees it was almost impossible to stay ahead of clearing them out. About half of the trees up in the canyon were beetle killed. I just heard that it was just a few lots away from my land. Praying that some how it jumps, but this is going to be devastating for all of us up there. I’ll try to keep you informed of what happens. The sad thing is that Ken had just posted a sign saying we were a firewise community.

You may want to talk it over with your Council and come up with a plan in the event that there is a fire. We did have an evacuation plan and it sounds like everyone got out safely, but it would be nice to have a plan to get out accurate information to everyone as the fire is going. The most important thing right now is that everyone got out.

Our hearts are hurting right now, but our spirits are strong. We will get through this and the canyon will be beautiful again. It’s going to be up to us to make sure it is.
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Here’s a more detailed description of the “Church Camp Fire,” as the wildfire in Argyle Canyon is designated.

Utah Fire Info  http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/ has posted information about a new wildfire that started yesterday in Argyle Canyon off of the Indian Canyon Highway (Hwy 191). Several members of the Fruitland Fire Department are there.

If you live on, or have visited your Fruitland area property recently, you’ve no doubt noticed a lot of smoke lately, especially today.  We’re looking for good sites to try to follow along. Seeing what’s been happening in some other western states, staying informed is crucial. Utah Fire Info http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/ reports that the only significant fires right now are at Saratoga Springs and near Fountain Green and Delta.