Main Canyon Fire, Sunday September 11, 2016

 
For Immediate Release  
Sept. 11, 2016
Contact: Christian Venhuizen, 435-994-9353, cvenhuizen@blm.gov; or  Marcia Gilles, 435 592-2323, mgilles@fs.fed.us  
Main Canyon Fire Note: Get the latest fire updates on Twitter @UtahWildfire
PINE VALLEY, Utah – The 26-acre Main Canyon Fire is 30 percent contained in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, in the Pine Valley Ranger District, Dixie National Forest.
More accurate mapping techniques using aircraft and GPS narrowed the estimated size of the fire from 57 acres to the smaller size.
Due to potential threat of the fire, the U.S. Forest Service issued a temporary closure of some trails and roads, starting Sept. 11 to ensure public safety.
Closed are the Water Canyon Trail No. 31024 and 31013; and Forest Service roads 2113, 2114, 3396, 565, 255, 252 and 011.
High winds are expected in the area Sunday and Monday, with red flag warnings (fire weather warning) in the zones surrounding the fire.
Fire crews are building and improving hand lines around the fire’s perimeter. Fire helicopters and three engines are assisting in areas accessible to vehicles.  
Fire investigators determined lightning started the fire, likely striking days before, which ignited fuel in the vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest. The fire eventually grew to where it could be seen and reported. The fire was initially reported Sept. 9.
The steep and rocky terrain and dense (live and dead) vegetation, including: aspen, mixed conifer, Ponderosa pine, pinyon, juniper and mountain shrubs, are slowing suppression resources efforts.  
The fire is being managed by a Color Country Interagency Type III Incident Management Team, led by Chris Henrie, Incident Commander. Objectives include suppressing the fire to reduce risk to private land and structures west of the incident, minimize smoke impacts to the town of Pine Valley and surrounding communities and to protect the sensitive Bonneville cutthroat trout habitat.
For further information please follow the Dixie National Forest on Facebook, Twitter, and utahfireinfo.gov.  

 
Main Canyon Fire Facts
Fire Size/Containment: 26 acres/30 percent contained.
Cause: Lightning strike on an undetermined date. Fire first reported Sept. 9, 2016.
Location: Approximately five miles north from the town of Pine Valley in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness of the Dixie National Forest, Pine Valley Ranger District.
Structures Threatened: Private ranch and home approximately 0.5 miles from the southwest edge of the fire.
Closures: Water Canyon Trail No. 31024 and 31013; and Forest Service roads 2113, 2114, 3396, 565, 255, 252 and 011.
Fire Information: Pine Valley Post Office and Pine Valley Fire Station.
Incident Management: Chris Henrie, incident commander, Color Country Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Evacuations: None.
Estimated Costs to Date: Approximately $250,000.
Fuels/terrain: Heavy dead and downed timber and brush, in steep and rocky terrain.
Fire Resources Assigned: 3 Type I interagency hotshot crews; 2 Type II initial attack crews; 1 Type I helicopter; 1 Type III helicopter; 2 engines; 150 total personnel assigned.
Injuries: None.
Get the latest fire updates on social media. Twitter: @UtahWildfire & @usfsdnf Facebook: www.facebook.com/usfsdnf