For Immediate Release
July 11, 2016, 8:30 a.m.
Contact: Saddle Fire Information (435)
590-2736 or (435) 680-0354
Dixie National Forest - Saddle Fire Update
PINE VALLEY, Utah – The Saddle fire is 2,295 acres and 45
percent contained.
The
Saddle Fire public meeting has been changed from Monday evening to Tuesday,
July 12, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Pine Valley Fire Station, 680 East Main Street
in Pine Valley. The date change was made in order to meet the needs of the Pine
Valley community.
The
Saddle Fire experienced minimal control issues despite wind gusts above 30 mph
yesterday due to the hard work put in by both our ground and aerial resources. Members
of nearby communities can expect to see continued fire activity and smoke
impacts from unburned islands of vegetation being consumed within the fire
perimeter.
Crews
are beginning to mop up and extinguish hot spots along accessible areas of the
fire perimeter. Aerial resources continue to monitor inaccessible areas of the
fire using fire retardant when needed to prevent further spread. Fire resources
continue to monitor direct and indirect control lines near the Pine Valley
community.
At
approximately 6:30 p.m. last night the Saddle Fire experienced a fifth drone
intrusion on the temporary flight restriction (TFR) in the fire area. The
current TFR has a radius of five nautical miles around a centralized point on
the fire. Non-cooperating aircraft is kept out of the fire area due to the
nature of aerial fire management activities for both the safety of fire
personnel and the public.
Significant
portions of the fire are unable to be staffed by ground firefighters due to
hazardous terrain. Aerial resources, such as helicopters, have been used to
monitor these sites and treat as necessary. Due to the risk drones introduce,
all aerial operations cease when one is spotted and do not resume until it is
determined safe to continue operations. We encourage the public to learn about
Unmanned Aircraft System regulations and safe use of drones by visiting www.knowbeforeyoufly.org. If you
fly, we can’t
There
are 211 personnel assigned. Resources include hand crews, fire engines, heavy
equipment and aircraft.
Voluntary
evacuations are currently in place in Pine Valley south on Lloyd Canyon Drive
at the Mahogany Lane intersection and south on Oakridge Drive and Mahogany
Lane. Closures in the Pine Valley Recreation area, including campgrounds, are
being lifted but trails in the immediate fire area will remain closed to the
public.
For further information please follow the Dixie
National Forest on Facebook, Twitter, and InciWeb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4794/.
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