Saddle Fire Facts-July 9, 2016

For Immediate Release                        

July 9, 2016, 8:30 a.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 Size: 2,242 acres

Percent Contained: 42 percent.

Evacuations: Voluntary evacuations remain in effect in the Lloyd Canyon subdivision for all properties south on Lloyd Canyon Drive at the Mahogany Lane intersection and south on Oakridge Drive and Mahogany Lane. Persons in these areas are encouraged to be prepared to evacuate if fire conditions change.

Closures: All campgrounds, hiking trails and the entire area within the Pine Valley Recreation Area are closed to all recreational uses on the Dixie National Forest. The Grass Valley Road from Pinto to Pine Valley and Mahogany Bench Road is also closed. For information on the Dixie National Forest closures: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4794/31098/

Structures Threatened: 54 structures in Lloyd Canyon. No structures have been destroyed.

Drone Intrusions: 4 violations of the Temporary Flight Restriction by Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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

Fire Resources Assigned: Total 242 personnel assigned, including 2 Type-I Interagency Hotshot Crews, 4 Type-II hand crews, 2 Type-I Helicopters, 2 Type-III Helicopters, 5 engines, 4 water tenders, and 1 air attack.

Air Operations:  A total of 341,811 gallons of retardant have been dropped on the Saddle Fire, and a total of 481,459 gallons of water have been dropped by helicopters, as of July 6^th. ***Air operations are grounded each time a drone is sighted, hampering fire suppression efforts.***

Injuries: 9 minor injuries are reported to date.

Incident Management:  Shawn Peterson, Incident Commander with the local Color Country Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team.

Cause: Natural lightning strike, June 13, 2016, approximately 2 miles south of the town of Pine Valley, in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness of the Pine Valley Ranger District on the Dixie National Forest.

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