Annual Pine Valley Community Fundraiser Dinner--Volunteers Needed!

Proceeds from this dinner help our community all year long. We need volunteers to help--sign up are at the post office. Also, we need everyone who possibly can to bring a cake. 

Pine Valley Heritage Day July 28, 2018

July 24th - Celebrate 150 Years of Pine Valley Chapel

Fire Update

Fire Update and Reminder--NO DRONES!

Fire Update

West Valley Fire Update - July 6, 2018 Date of Start: June 27, 2018 Current Size: 11,716 acres Location: 10 Miles North of St. George Utah Legal Description: Latitude: 37ᵒ 23’ 50” Longitude: 113ᵒ 25’ 24” Cause: Human Caused. Containment: 28% Resources: There are currently 659 personnel on the incident, including 20 Hand Crews, 3 Type-1 Heli-copters, 3 Type-2 Helicopters, 4 Type-3 Helicopters, 17 Engine Crews, 1 Bulldozer and 2 Water Tenders. Fire Behavior Decreases on the West Valley Fire Firefighters have been working diligently to increase containment on the West Valley Fire. Despite previous multiple Red Flag Warning days, containment lines on the southern, western and northern flanks are currently holding. The eastern flank has shown little movement and has burned to the edge of several fire scars and natu-ral barriers. There was limited growth yesterday with smoldering and isolated torching within the fire perimeter. A drone intrusion occurred yesterday mid-morning within the fire perimeter. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place around the fire, to avoid mid-air collisions. TFRs are put into place to protect aerial attack helicopters and airplanes during firefighting efforts. While seemingly insignificant in size, a drone can cause catastrophic damage to any aircraft. This drone intrusion grounded aircraft, inhibiting firefighting efforts until it was deemed safe to resume flight operations and suppression efforts. If you fly, we can’t. Help keep our firefighters safe by respecting the TFR and area closures. Lighter winds are expected today and will continue through early next week. Cloud cover will increase through the weekend, as a result of monsoon moisture from the south. Isolated thunderstorms are possible Saturday, with the potential for wetting rain Sunday through the middle of next week. With this potential for higher hu-midity and lighter winds, crews anticipate gaining ground on the containment of the fire. Pine Valley Reservoir is now open to recreation. Helicopters had been using the reservoir to fill their buckets for fire suppression. However, with containment on the southern end, helicopters are dipping from water sources closer to the areas they are dropping water. Pine Valley Campground remains open. Emergency area, road and trail closures remain in effect. For details about these closures, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5873/43533/. Stage II Fire Restrictions remain in place. You can find additional details at: www.utahfireinfo.gov

Fire Update July 5, 2018

Latest Update

West Valley Fire Update - July 5, 2018 Date of Start: June 27, 2018 Current Size: 11,716 acres Location: 10 Miles North of St. George Utah Legal Description: Latitude: 37ᵒ 23’ 50” Longitude: 113ᵒ 25’ 24” Cause: Human Caused. Containment: 20% Resources: There are currently 647 personnel on the incident, including 20 Hand Crews, 3 Type-1 Helicopters, 3 Type-2 Helicopters, 4 Type-3 Helicopters, 18 Engine Crews, 1 Bulldozer and 1 Water Tender. Public Meeting Scheduled for today, July 5, 2018 at the Pine Valley Fire Station at 6:00 P.M. Firefighters are using several tactics to suppress the West Valley Fire, including the use of fire retardant. Fire retardant is a mixture of water and fertilizer dropped by aircraft that is used to slow the spread of fire or reduce its intensity. It’s colored red to be easily viewed from the air and on the ground. The use of retardant gives firefighters the ability to safely approach the fire to improve containment lines. Air resources work in conjunction with ground crews to target retardant drops where they are most needed. Crews have also been putting fire on the ground, a firefighting technique known as a ‘backfire.’ A backfire is a fire set along the inner edge of a fire line. These backfires reduce the burnable vegetation in the path of the main wildfire. If successful, a backfire can slow down or stop a wildfire by removing most of the vegetation in the path of the fire. Yesterday, Division B along the western perimeter, implemented a very successful backfire. They reduced fuel between the main fire and the fire control line which helped slow the fire's progress. Firefighters could then safely access the fire area and put out hotspots and hold the line. Stage II Fire Restrictions are in place. Igniting, building, attending, using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, wood stove fire, including fires in developed campgrounds and improved sites are prohibited. All debris burning is strictly prohibited. No campfires are allowed in any location until restrictions are rescinded. No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is paved, barren or cleared to mineral soil. In addition, metal cutting, welding, and grinding activities in areas of dry vegetation, as well as discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, firing steel tipped or steel core ammunition, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets are prohibited on BLM and State and Private land in the unincorporated areas.” You can find additional details at: www.utahfireinfo.gov Structure protection groups remain in place around the fire. Homeowners are urged to clear the vegetation away from their homes. Programs, such as FIREWISE and Ready, Set, Go can provide information to help you prepare. There are no evacuations in place. Emergency area, road and trail closures remain in effect. For details about these closures, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5873/43533/.

Community Meeting Tomorrow Night, July 5 at 6:00

West Valley Fire 

Update - July 4, 2018 

Date of Start: June 27, 2018

Current Size: 10,836 acres

Location: 10 Miles North of St. George Utah

Legal Description: Latitude: 37∘ 23’ 50” Longitude:  113∘ 25’ 24”

Cause: Human Caused. Containment: 8%

Resources: There are currently 605 personnel on the incident, including 18 Hand Crews, 3 Type-1 Helicopters, 4 Type-2 Helicopters, 3 Type-3 Helicopters, 18 Engine Crews, 1 Bulldozer and 1 Water Tender.

Public Meeting Scheduled for July 5, 2018 at the Pine Valley Fire Station at 6:00 P.M.

“Due to extreme fire danger conditions and increased human caused wildfires in southwest Utah and the Arizona Strip, Color Country Interagency Fire Managers are implementing Advanced (Stage II) Fire Restrictions beginning Tuesday, July 3 at 00:01 a.m. Visitors should be mindful that these new fire restrictions will limit certain activities and will remain in effect until rescinded, which typically occurs after significant and widespread moisture arrives and fire danger levels subside.”  You can find additional details at: www.utahfireinfo.gov . 

There will be a Community meeting on July 5, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Pine Valley Fire Station.  We would like to thank everyone that came to the meeting in New Harmony.  We estimated there were over 100 people.       Excellent were questions and we were given useful ideas.  Knowledge of the local area is always appreciated by our fire crews and those assisting on the fire.

A Red Flag Warning is in affect for tomorrow. A Red Flag Warning is a forecast warning issued by the US National Weather Service to inform firefighting and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildland fire combustion, and rapid spread.^[1] After drought conditions, when humidity is very low, and           especially when there are high or erratic winds (which may include lightning as a factor), the Red Flag Warning    becomes critical information for firefighters to strategize. Due to these conditions, smoke may be highly visible again today. 

Structure protection groups are in place around the fire. They are prepping and assessing potential areas at risk.  We urge homeowners to clear the vegetation away from their homes. Clear any firewood placed next to your home, as a single ember can land and start a fire.  There are many programs, such as FIREWISE, that can     provide information to help you prepare. There are no evacuations in place.

Emergency area, road and trail closures remain in effect. For details about these closures, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5873/43533/. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Facebook: @UtahWildfire and @USFSDNF, Twitter: @UtahWildfire and @USFSDNF, InciWeb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5873/43533/

Fire Update

West Valley Fire

Update - July 2, 2018 Date of Start: June 27, 2018 Current Size: 10,510 acres Location: 10 Miles North of St. George Utah Legal Description: Latitude: 37∘ 23’ 50” Longitude: 113∘ 25’ 24” Cause: Human Caused. Containment: 5% Resources: There are currently 560 personnel on the incident, including 13 Hand Crews, 3 Type-1 Helicopters, 3 Type-2 Helicopters, 5 Type-3 Helicopters, 15 Engine Crews, 1 Bulldozer, 3 Water Tenders, 2 Camp Crews. Community Meeting Scheduled for Tonight in New Harmony A community meeting will be held tonight at the New Harmony Fire Station at 7 p.m. The fire station is located at 133 East Center Street in New Harmony. Members of the Great Basin Incident Management Team 6 will be available to answer questions from the public. The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located in Grass Valley. The top priority of the incident management team is the safety of the public and fire personnel. The objective is 100% containment. The fire is burning in mixed conifer, brush and grass in steep and rugged terrain. Smokejumpers and hotshot crews are “spiking out”— staying overnight near the fireline to minimize travel times to and from their work areas. Firefighters are building control lines directly on the fire’s edge where possible along the fire’s north and east, and south flanks. Helicopters are dropping water on hotspots and fixed-wing air tankers are dropping retardant to support crews on the fireline. Firefighters are assessing trail systems to utilize near the fire’s north flank in the event burning operations become necessary. Crews are also clearing brush along roads around the community of New Harmony. A red flag warning is in effect today for temperatures in the 80s and southwest winds gusting to 25 m.p.h. No evacuations are in place. Emergency area, road and trail closures remain in effect. The Pine Valley Campground is open.

New Fire Restrictions

From Wildfire Specialist Doug Burns, Washington County Emergency Services

No campfires are allowed

Southwest Utah, Northern Arizona Fire Managers Implement “Additional Fire Restrictions” Due to extreme fire danger conditions and increased human caused wildfires in southwest Utah and the Arizona Strip, Color Country Interagency Fire Managers are implementing Advanced (Stage II) Fire Restrictions beginning Tuesday, July 3 at 00:01 a.m. Visitors should be mindful that these new fire restrictions will limit certain activities and will remain in effect until rescinded, which typically occurs after significant and widespread moisture arrives and fire danger levels subside. The following describes the restrictions implemented by each fire management agency in the Color Country Fire Management Area.

Restricted Lands in Washington, Iron, Beaver, Kane, Garfield, Coconino, and Mojave Counties:

Unincorporated privately owned and all state administered lands (Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands). Incorporated towns and cities are not included in these restrictions. (Contact your local fire department for municipal restrictions).

· Bureau of Land Management administered public land (Utah and Arizona Strip).

· Dixie National Forest (Pine Valley, Cedar City, Powell and Escalante Ranger Districts).

· National Park Service (Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pipe Springs National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Rainbow Bridge National Monument).

· Bureau of Indian Affairs (Trust Lands of the Shivwits, Cedar, Indian Peaks, and Kaibab Band Reservations). Restrictions:

The Following acts are prohibited until further notice:

1. Igniting, building, attending, using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, wood stove fire, including fires in developed campgrounds and improved sites. All debris burning is strictly prohibited. No campfires are allowed in any location until restrictions are rescinded. Exceptions: In Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, campfires are permitted below the high water mark of the lake in areas devoid of vegetation.

2. Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks on unincorporated private land (always prohibited on state and federal lands).

3. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order as determined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices J335 and J350.

4. Operating a chainsaw or other motorized equipment powered by an internal combustion engine, other than motorized vehicles between the hours of 1:00 PM and 10:00 PM. A one hour fire watch is required after chainsaw or other motorized equipment has shutdown.

5. Detonating of explosives, incendiary or chemical devices, pyrotechnics, or exploding targets, or tracer ammunition (always prohibited on federal land).

6. Cutting, welding, or grinding of metal in areas of dry vegetation.

7. Smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed recreation site or areas of a minimum of three (3) feet in diameter cleared down to mineral soil.

For specific information regarding fire restrictions by juristiction, visit www.utahfireinfo.gov or the Color Country Interagency Fire Center at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov

Fire Update July 1

Update from Peter Kulhmann, Em Coordinator, Washington County Emergency Services

West Valley Fire Update

July 1, 2018 Date of Start: June 27, 2018 Current Size: 9,462 acres Location: 10 Miles North of St. George Utah Legal Description: Latitude: 37∘ 23’ 50” Longitude: 113∘ 25’ 24” Cause: Human Caused. Containment: 0% Resources: There are currently 449 personnel on the incident, including 13 Hand Crews, 3 Type-1 Helicopters, 3 Type-2 Helicopters, 3 Type-3 Helicopters, 8 Engine Crews, 1 Bulldozer, 2 Water Tenders. Community Meeting Scheduled for Monday in New Harmony A community meeting will be held Monday, July 2, at the New Harmony Fire Station at 7 p.m. The fire station is located at 133 East Center Street in New Harmony. Great Basin Incident Management Team 6, led by Incident Commander Brook Chadwick, assumed command of the West Valley Fire yesterday at 0600. The team is comprised of individuals from several agencies working within the Great Basin. The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located in Grass Valley. The top priority of the team is the safety of the public and fire personnel. The objective is 100% containment. The fire is burning in mixed conifer, brush and grass. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s today with light NW winds. A crew of smokejumpers is working from the fire’s tail up the east flank. Hotshot crews are constructing fireline directly on the fire’s edge where possible along the fire’s north and east flanks. Helicopters dropping water on hotspots are supporting firefighters, and fixed-wing air tankers are available upon request. Hotshot Crews and Type 2 Initial Attack Crews are assessing structures about two miles from the fire’s north and west flanks, and scouting trail systems in the event burning operations become necessary. No evacuations are in place. Emergency area, road and trail closures remain in effect. For details about these closures, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5873/43533/. The Pine Valley Campground is open. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Facebook: @UtahWildfire and @USFSDNF, Twitter: @UtahWildfire and @USFSDNF, InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5873

Fire Town Meeting Scheduled

EM Coordinator Peter Kuhlmann, Washington County Emergency Services AGENCY

West Valley Fire Town Meeting Scheduled New Harmony, UT: On Monday, July 2, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. a public Town Hall meeting is scheduled at the New Harmony Fire Station, (133 East Center St., New Harmony, UT) to discuss the status of the West Valley fire. Subjects to be discussed are current and future operations, fire behavior, fuel conditions, and an incident commander outlook. Meeting will be followed by a Q & A session. All are welcome.