WASATCH/DUCHESNE COUNTIES, Utah, July 8, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Dollar Ridge Fire is now 49,789 acres and 35 percent contained, officials said Sunday evening.
A total of 784 people are assigned to the fire, and the expected date for total containment is Friday, July 20, Utah Fire Info said in a tweet.
A Sunday morning tweet said: “Firefighters are making good progress on the Dollar Ridge Fire. Using aerial support and multiple suppression tactics, the fire crews have contained 30 percent of the fire. Wetting rains, lighting and cooler temperatures are forecasted for the fire area today.”
Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office also posted updated information on Facebook Saturday evening concerning access to the evacuation zones.
Access to the evacuation zones on Sunday will go as follows, the post said:
D1 (Evacuation Zone 1): No access at this time. We do not have an estimate for when we will be able to grant access to this area.
D2 (Evacuation Zone 2): Beginning at 9 a.m. the area east of Lower Red Creek Road on the south side of U.S. 40 will be OPEN to the Strawberry River Road for residents to re-enter. This does not include Camelot, Strawberry Pinnacles or Avintaquin Canyon.
D2 will shift to pre-evacuation status and residents should be prepared to evacuate again if necessary.
Travel on Lower Red Creek Road is prohibited for the safety of firefighters and the public. Lower Red Creek Road is now part of D1 for the time being.
D3 (Evacuation Zone 3): You are on pre-evacuation status. You may stay on your property but should be prepared to evacuate if needed.
D4 (Evacuation Zone 4): Beginning at 11 a.m. the area south of U.S. 40 to the Currant Creek River will OPEN for residents to re-enter. No access is allowed south of Currant Creek River in this area and access to Currant Creek Road from US-40 is PROHIBITED.
D4 will shift to pre-evacuation status and residents should be prepared to evacuate again if necessary.
Residents do not need to check in with our office before returning to their properties in the zones that are being re-opened.
U.S. 40 and State Route 208 were reopened at 6 p.m. Friday, but officials are warning everyone that stopping anywhere in the area of the Dollar Ridge Fire is strictly prohibited.
Stopping for any reason at any location along the highway within the fire area is not allowed, as all pullouts along the roads must be clear for fire equipment, DCSO said on Facebook.
Speed limits have been reduced to 35 miles an hour through the fire area and are being strictly enforced by Utah Highway Patrol. This is because of limited visibility due to smoke in the area and for the safety of firefighters and the public.
Motorists are advised to drive with their headlights on and to stay alert for any changes in circumstances as they travel near the active wildfire, UHP cautioned in a news release.
The following roads are still closed:
- Reservation Ridge road (Forest Service road #147) is closed from the Forest boundary on the Spanish Fork Ranger District north to Willow Creek road (Forest Service road #754), then going south and west along the Willow Creek road to the intersection with the Left Fork White River road (Forest Service road #131).
- The Right Fork White River road (Forest Service road #081) is closed from the Forest boundary northeast to the Reservation Ridge road (Forest Service road #147)
- Forest Service road #118 is closed at the intersection with Forest Service road #375.
The Dollar Ridge Fire started 4.5 miles southeast of Strawberry Reservoir at about 1 p.m. July 1.
The cause is believed to be due to human activity and is under investigation.
Gephardt Daily will update this story as more information becomes available.
For the latest updates on the Dollar Ridge Fire and other Utah wildfires click here.
