EMERY COUNTY, Utah, June 17, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Trail Mountain Fire has consumed 13,710 acres and is 17 percent contained as of Saturday night.
Officials said Saturday’s heavy cloud cover and humidity were helpful in slowing the fire and limiting its spread in the upper Mill Fork drainage to the north and west.
Containment, which had been holding at 10 percent, was increased to 17 percent.
It’s anticipated that the humidity and periodic rain showers will continue through Sunday; however, officials expect fire activity to increase as the humidity goes down on Monday and southwest winds pick up, likely reaching 25 miles per hour.
Highway 31 is projected to open at 7 a.m. Sunday, barring any unforeseen circumstances, but drivers are asked to use caution and avoid the fire area if at all possible. Equipment and crews will be working throughout Huntington Canyon.
The fire area in Mill Fork and Deer Creek will be patrolled because of the hazardous conditions.
“Containment has been attained on the majority of the southern perimeter of the fire, and Crandall Mine has been equipped with sprinklers, vegetation has been reduced, and fireline prepared in the event the fire reaches that location,” officials said Saturday night.
Fire crews will keep working toward containment and heat reduction on Sunday.
The Manti-La Sal National Forest has an area closure in effect around the fire. See a map and description of the area at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/5830/. The campgrounds between the Huntington Power Plant and milepost 18.5 of Highway 31 are also closed.
Eight helicopters, 23 engines, and 15 crews have been working the Trail Mountain Fire, for a total of 598 personnel responding.
