Pole Creek Fire now 23% contained

Firefighters were able to use aerial attacks on the Bald Mountain Fire, dropping both retardant and water in efforts to suppress the fire, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Photo: Facebook/Utah Wildfire

JUAB COUNTY, Utah, Sept. 17, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Spanish Fork Public Safety posted an update Monday night on the Pole Creek Fire that sounds more positive than anything residents have heard since Sept. 6 when the lightning-caused wildfire started.

“We have great news from this evening’s status update!” the Facebook post begins. It then outlines the progress on the fire:

  • The Pole Creek Fire is now 23% contained.
  • Weather today permitted air operations through the day today.
  • Night shift will have more manpower, equipment, and engines to work moving forward.
  • Firefighters have been safe. No firefighter injuries to report.
  • No primary structures lost.
  • Expect high winds tomorrow and Wednesday.

The post includes an interactive map for the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires, created by the Incident Management Team, that can be accessed  at http://bit.ly/PoleCreekMap.

Regarding the Bald Mountain Fire, Utah Wildfire on Facebook said Monday night:

“Thanks to reduced winds today, aerial attack was heavily utilized on the #BaldMountainFire, specifically in the northwest corner near Payson, Elk Ridge, and Woodland Hills. Both retardant and water were utilized in these suppression efforts. Firefighters are making good progress.”

According to Monday night’s update on InciWeb, the projected outlook for fire activity is:

  • 12 hours: Active to extreme fire behavior with winds and dry fuels. Movement to the north and northeast is expected.
  • 24 hours: Very active to extreme fire behavior is expected with winds and humidity.
  • Fire growth expected to the north and northeast.
  • 48 hours: Very active to extreme fire behavior is expected.

Efforts to bring this fire under control will include:

  • Continued firing operations to slow the fire’s spread toward the community of Covered Bridge and from crossing Highway 6 near Sheep Creek.
  • The East flank has burned up against the Coal Hollow Fire. Continuing direct and indirect line construction to herd the SE flank into the Coal Hollow burn scar to prevent further fire spread to the S and SE. A road to the SE is being prepped in anticipation of wind shift mid-week.
  • In the center of the fire, continued point protection of structures along Highway 89.
  • On the south side, continue direct and indirect line construction to contain the south flank and connect with the south end of the Bald Mountain Fire to prevent further fire spread to the south. The Pole Creek and Bald Mountain Fires have merged.

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