Fire crews are working to suppress a 90-acre blaze burning in steep terrain about a mile southwest of the Crandall Canyon Mine, about 15 miles northwest of Huntington, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The fire is believed to have started a week ago.
It was not reported until 2 p.m. Friday, April 20, when crews responded immediately.
There are two crews working on the fire and a helicopter making water drops.
The fire is burning in last year’s dry grass, understory litter and mixed conifer forest.
There is no new green vegetation to slow the fire, so dry grass is carrying the flames. The blaze is edging to the northeast and slowly up the slope.
Duty Officer Troy Suwyn, of the Manti-La Sal National Forest said the goal is to contain the fire in the next 48 hours and have it fully controlled by the end of the week.
There are no active workings at the Crandall Canyon Mine and no personnel at the mine. It is owned by Utah American Energy.
Good weather and various hunting seasons are bringing people to the Forest early this year. The Forest Service cautions Forest visitors to build fires in a fire ring, or clear away all vegetation down to mineral earth before starting a fire.
Before leaving the fire, be sure it is dead out, and never leave a fire unattended.
Dry conditions make these warnings even more urgent this spring when there is so much dry vegetation from last year’s growth and new green vegetation has not yet emerged.
US Forest Service reports fire near Crandall Canyon Mine
The U.S. Forest Service reports a fire has broken out among dry forest vegetation about a mile from Crandall Canyon Mine.