'Baboon Fire' burns 17,000 acres in Beaver County (and threatens pig farm)

KSL.com ^ | 6/12/2012 | John Hollenhorst and Stephanie Grimes

[reaganaut]

SALT LAKE CITY — Crews responded to a wildfire in Beaver County that quickly spread to 17,000 acres Thursday, officials said. The fire is also threatening a pig farm in the area.

The Baboon Fire, as it is being called, was apparently triggered by lightning Wednesday, and it smoldered in a tree overnight. Once it got going south of Minersville around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, dry conditions and fierce winds pushed it up mountainsides and across rangeland.

"The fire is chewing up real estate just like nobody's businesses, going through this dry brush," Beaver County Emergency Director Les Whitney said. "The cedar trees are just popping ahead of the fire from the heat that's produced, and they're igniting prior to the fire line even hitting them."

The blaze was quickly dubbed the Baboon Fire because it threatened communication facilities on top of Baboon Peak. Late in the day, the big threat was to the Circle Four Hog Farm, which has hundreds of thousands of pigs in dozens of widely scattered barns.

"It's probably the largest hog farm in the nation, and there are quite a few employees who work there as well," said fire information officer Nick Howell.

The Baboon Fire, located roughly 4 miles south of Minersville in Beaver County, was sparked by lightning, investigators say. So far, it has burned 17,000 acres.

The pigs were not evacuated. But an air tanker worked the fire lines repeatedly along with choppers and water buckets.

As evening set in, winds and temperatures eased off and the major threats seemed to diminish. But firefighters are not getting all the help they wish they had.

"We're really short on resources. We're really short-handed," Howell said. "All of our resources are expended throughout southern Utah."

State Route 130 was also temporarily closed in the afternoon and again Thursday evening.

Firefighters say they have a love-hate relationship with storms, as they can both start fires and help to put them out. Crews say they just hope they get the right combination.

[reaganaut]

Baboon fire threatens pig farm in Beaver county.

[reaganaut]

Utah ping

[T Minus Four]

I know I shouldn't laugh - half the state is on fire. But as far as I know, no homes are threatened.

And honestly, that should win an award for oddest headline.

[T Minus Four]

So, a baboon, a beaver and pig walk into a bar...

[T Minus Four]

So, a baboon, a beaver and pig walk into a bar...

[reaganaut]

lol. That is what I thought too. Only Utah would come up with a headline like that. Some days I actually miss that state.

[BlueDragon]

There's this slightly clumsily worded sentence, too;

"It's probably the largest hog farm in the nation, and there are quite a few employees who work there as well,"

The "as well" tacked on the end of "employees who work there" had me considering, a pig farm, were the pigs worked too? Well, along with the other employees "that worked". How would that uh, work?

At least we can be assured work was being done. By employees who worked there as well. Geez. That information officer might have just spilled the beans (pork'n beans?) of how that farm became one of the largest. Efficiency!

But again then who am I to speak of clumsy sentence structure? don't answer that

[Myrddin]

I pass through Beaver on the way up I-15 from San Diego to Pocatello. The elevation at the mile marker 100 is about 6100 ft. At the north end mile marker 115 the pass is near 6600 ft. That is the high point of the trip.

I'm planning a motorcycle traversal of the route instead of my F150. I don't want to be choking on smoke on the way through. Fire conditions and weather quality will determine when/if I make the trip.

[D-fendr]

[tdscpa]

Bring your dry rub and barbecue sauce.

Bacon, smoked pulled pork shoulder, ham. Feet and ears also if you want. Place your orders.

[T Minus Four]

It could smell like a BBQ joint :-) I hear Famous Dave’s pumps their smoke outside to entice customers.

[Myrddin]

I have been outside the Famous Dave's in Idaho Falls. That's probably a correct supposition. I haven't been inside yet. The Famous Dave's franchise replaced my favorite steakhouse in Idaho Falls. When I visit the Harley dealer, I often wrap up the visit to IF with a trip into the Starbucks around the corner before heading to I-15. Famous Dave's is in that parking lot.