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 No campfires are allowed in any location until restrictions are rescinded.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/.