WASHINGTON COUNTY – Two fires are now burning in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness of the Dixie National Forest as of Friday.
The lightning-caused Oak Grove Fire has grown to 833 acres and remains at 10 percent containment since its ignition Tuesday. The new blaze, the significantly smaller Brown Trail Fire, started Friday morning and is currently a quarter-acre in size and has since been contained, according to a Forest Service press release.
The Brown Trail Fire
Currently, 20 firefighters and three fire engines from the Forest Service, Utah Division of Natural Resources and Santa Clara Fire Department are tending to the new fire. They are being aided by a 10-person hand crew from the Coconino National Forest out of Arizona. (See ed. note)
The Brown Trail fire was reported to the Forest Service Friday morning by Pine Valley Fire Chief Gerald Schiefer.
Aerial resources attached to the Oak Grove Fire are being shared to help suppress the Brown Trail Fire as needed.
The fire is located near one mile southwest of the Browns Point Trail in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, and is not burning near the Oak Grove Fire.
The Brown Trail Fire was contained late Friday, according to an update from the Forest Service, and is believed to be lightning-caused.
No structures are threatened by the fire and no evacuations have been triggered.
The Browns, Forsyth, Equestrian and Summit trails have been closed due to the fire.
The Oak Grove Fire
The Forest Service released a brief update on the Dixie National Forest Facebook page that the Oak Grove Fire has grown to 133 acres and remains at 10 percent containment.
Lighter smoke produced by the fire signifies a decrease in fire intensity and fuel consumption. Additional hand crews were flown into the fire area to assist with fire line construction efforts. Warm weather will continue Saturday with moisture moving into the fire area late Sunday to provide some relief from the current dry conditions.
As of Thursday, 136 people have been assigned to fight the fire. They are attached to local and regional firefighting resources.
The fire is located two miles southwest of the Oak Grove campground in the Pine Valley Wilderness of the Dixie National Forest, and was ignited Tuesday morning by lightning.
Forest Service roads No. 031, 902 and 032 to Oak Grove and Oak Grove Campground are closed. The public is urged to use caution in the area to allow fire crews access.
The Oak Grove campground was evacuated Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
No structures are threatened and no injuries were reported Friday.
Ed. note: This article has been updated with new information provided by the U.S. Forest Service. Division of Resources name corrected.
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- Oak Grove Fire now spanning an estimated 770 acres
- Oak Grove Fire grows to 350 acres; 1 injury reported
- Oak Grove Fire spans 300 acres, officials await additional resources
- Fire near Pine Valley Mountain equivalent of 100 football fields in size; video footage
- News LIVE: Firefighters prepare to knock down 75-acre Oak Grove fire
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Well lets see if we can make a connection, an idiot has posted on facebook, and here several times. That he wholeheartedly believes this whole mountain needs to burn. He also states that he has a hike planed in the area on friday… Anyone else see a connection to the new fire this morning?
We can hope he made the hike and has not been heard of since.
“an idiot has posted on facebook”
…
yes
LOL.!… the person had a hike planed for that day..? how can someone plane a hike.?