Sunday, June 26, 2016 7:30 pm Saddle Fire Update

For Immediate Release                        

Sunday, June 26, 2016, updated 7:30 p.m.

Contact: Saddle Fire Information (435) 590-2736 or (435) 680-0354, saddlefireinfo@gmail.com

Saddle Fire Information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4794/ and www.utahfireinfo.gov

Saddle Fire Facts

Fire Information: Posted at the following locations: Central Fire Station, Veyo Market, Veyo Sinclair Station, Veyo Pies, Family Dollar (Veyo), Family Dollar (Enterprise), Marv’s (Enterprise), Verla’s Country Café (Enterprise), Carter’s Market (Enterprise), Pine Valley Recreation Area, Pine Valley Heritage Center, Pine Valley Post Office, Enterprise Sinclair Station, Enterprise Post Office, and the Enterprise Ace True Value Hardware Store.

Public Meetings: The Saddle Fire Incident Management Team will provide a fire operations update at 7 p.m., June 27, at the Central Fire Station, 155 E. Center Street, Central, Utah.

Cause: Started by a lightning strike, June 13, 2016.

Location: Approximately 2.5 miles southwest from the town of Pine Valley in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness of the Dixie National Forest, Pine Valley Ranger District.

Incident Management: Bill Hahnenberg, Incident Commander with the National Incident Management Organization along with the Color Country Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team.

Fire Size: 1,234 acres

Evacuations: Washington County Sheriff’s Office has issued a voluntary evacuation order for the town of Pine Valley. Property owners are encouraged to be prepared to evacuate if fire conditions change.

Estimated Costs to Date: $4.5 million

Closures: Pine Valley Recreation Area, Dixie National Forest; Baker Reservoir (closed to the public); Grass Valley Road from Pinto to Pine Valley; Mahogany Bench Road; entry to the town of Pine Valley is restricted to property owners. For information on the Dixie National Forrest closures: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4794/31098/

Structures Threatened: 500 residents and 500 other structures. No structures have been destroyed.

Percent Contained: 5 percent.

Fuels/terrain: Heavy dead and downed timber, brush, surrounded by steep, rugged and rocky terrain.

Fire Resources Assigned: 7 Type I Interagency Hotshot Crews; 4 Type II handcrews; 8 Type II initial attack crews; 2 Type I Helicopter; 3 Type III Helicopters; 32 engines; 1 dozer; 3 water tender; and 1 air attack; 675 total personnel assigned.

Injuries: 2 injuries to date, both minor heat related illnesses.