Large Wild Fire in Utah Just Started

Myself | June, 30 2002 | KuernoDeChivo

[KuernoDeChivo]

With Fires in Burning in nearly every state around us I knew it was a matter of time before one started near us. Tonight our number was up. When I woke up at 9:30 to come into work I saw the telltale sign of a large smoke plume in the mountains to the east of us between Springville and Provo.

It looks like it has been burning about 2 hours now and has burned a swath about 1-2 miles wide from the bottom foot-hills near the valley floor at about 4500 ft elevation all the way to the tops mountains at around 9000 Ft elevation.

As I passed by the fire area I could see the amassing emergency vehicles taking position along the benches as a first line defense for the urban-interface areas of parts of South Provo and North Springville.

Now that the fire has reached the top of the mountain the new main front is the North front that is being blown along with calm but warm winds out of the south. Like most our neighboring states we have had little to no rain. With the current night temperature around 85ºF combined with the preheating from the smoke and fire the North moving head is quite large and can be seen for over 30 miles. From the I-15 you can easily see the crowning of the large fir trees. Over all the fuel load is medium to heavy in this area made up of oak-brush, fir and aspen.

I haven’t heard anything on the news yet so like usual you freepers will be the first to know!

Kuerno

[JudyB1938]

The first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this thread was you. Although I wouldn't wish it on anybody, I am glad you're not immediately threatened. May God help them put this one out before it does too much damage. But I've been in those mountains of Utah and know what you're talking about!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

How is it that the Unita Wilderness Area around Mirror Lake is not having fires?

Sounds like this might be man made!

[KuernoDeChivo]

Ernest,

As far as I know there is nothing burning in the Uintas. From what I have heard the next closest fire to this area is near the small town of Helper Utah.

Kuerno

[KuernoDeChivo]

Ernest,

I take that back it looks like the Uintas are burning!

Kuerno

http://www.ksl.com/dump/news/c c/fire/frx_scout.htm

[LeGrande]

Latest observation at 11:30 pm the smoke is almost gone it looks like the fire is under control. I live up in Hobble Creek on the other side. Where the fire might be headed :(

By the way I understand that there is a fairly large fire, 4000 acres by mirror lake.

LG Harris

[Crazymonarch]

Utah....hmmm good way to get rid of a body

[KuernoDeChivo]

LeGrande,

Are you able to see the Nortern head of the fire? When I came into work it was still burning hot but further North near Provo.

I hope your right!

Kuerno

[Nitro]

You mean "Joe Smith" didn't know??

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks, I enjoyed the Trout fishing up there many years ago while a Grad student at the Univ of Utah .

[brat]

Its going to be a long, hot summer out west.

[2sheep]

Certainly any dead branches will be fuel for the flame.

[Nan48]

We can see the fire from our backyard here in Provo. The kids said it looked like lava flowing down the mountain. We can see huge red flames. Looks like it's about as bad as the one last year on Y Mountain.

[KuernoDeChivo]

Nan,

Hopefully if it makes it that far North the burned-out area left from Y-Mountain fire will give a bit of a fire break with the lighter fuel load left in that area.

Kuerno

[Nan48]

Yep. At least there's not much left to burn on Y Mountain this year. We'll just have one big, black mountain range.

[Nan48]

It's so dry this year our lawn is toast. What gets me, though, is that we citizens are supposed to cut back on watering our lawns, but then there's some city sprinklers in the park by us that have been running constantly for THREE days! Wish we could pipe some of that wasted water over to our yard.

[KuernoDeChivo]

Nan,

That's for sure. Both my sister and I live down near Santaquin and that burned out last fall as well. With the low moister this year there is no vegitation left there expect for the large bald trunks of the firs that look like a forest of tooth picks. There is hardly even grass this year which helped contribute to an avalance in Santaquin Canyon. As far as I know the Canyon is still blocked with snow mud and dead trees.

It's not even July yet. This is going to be a long summer if we don't start getting some moisture. Usually our fire season doesn't even end till late Spetember! If that's the case this year we've still got 3 mothe to go!

Kuerno

[BJungNan]

Interesting map at this address. Sorry I could not figure out the html or I would have posted it directly. Link goes straight to the map.

http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/firemap.html

[brityank]

Here's the map:

 

Keep safe, all.

[C210N]

Just hope all these fires don't give ideas to
alcaida/hamas types.

[proudofthesouth]

I've been having the same (horrible) thought.