ST. GEORGE – The lightning-ignited Main Canyon Fire burning 5 miles north of the town of Pine Valley is 50 percent contained as of early Monday afternoon.
The 26-acre fire was reported Friday and created a large plume of smoke visible from Cedar City. In Washington County, the smoke created a long stretch of haze that rose from Pine Mountain and drifted across the eastern horizon.
The Main Canyon Fire is located in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness within the Dixie National Forest.
The area the fire is burning in is described as steep and rocky and filled with dead and downed timber and brush that is providing fuel to the fire.
A total of 130 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the fire. Firefighting resources also include two Type I interagency hotshot crews, one Type II initial attack crew, one initial attack squad, one Type I helicopter, one Type III helicopter and two engines.
With helicopters being involved in fighting the fire, drone operators are advised not to fly their drones in the area of fire suppression operations due to the risk of interfering with firefighting aircraft. Doing so can result in hefty fines and even time behind bars depending on the results of drone interference.
Firefighting operations are currently being overseen by Incident Commander Chris Henrie of the Color Country Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Thus far the cost firefighting operations have hit $375,000.
A red flag weather warning including high winds that may effect the fire was issued by the National Weather Service Sunday and remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon.
Threats, closures and evacuations
A private ranch and home located a half-mile southwest of the fire remain under threat as of Monday’s fire update.
No evacuations are in effect at this time.
Road and trial closures include:
- Water Canyon Trail No. 31024 and 31013
- Forest Service roads 2113, 2114, 3396, 565, 255, 252 and 011.
Resources
- Fire information for Pine Valley and surrounding communities can be found at the Pine Valley Post Office located on the west side of the Pine Valley fire station.
- Dixie National Forest Facebook page
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
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