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Southwestern Utah's 1,329-acre Saddle Wildfire remained in a smoky standoff Monday with ground crews working to halt flames threatening homes, while aircraft bombarded the blaze's smoldering, steep and rugged slopes with tons of water and fire retardant chemicals.
Hundreds of homes in the Pine Valley area, roughly 25 miles northeast of St. George, remained in the lightning-caused fire's path, and homeowners were still on notice that a sudden shift in firefighting fortunes could require evacuation. Thus far, no homes have been lost to the two-week old blaze.
Fire Information Officer Christian Venhuizen said the fire had gained nearly 100 acres overnight and was just 5 percent contained. As of Monday, the price tag for the blaze had reached $4.5 million, he said.
"The fire remains most active in the Lloyd and Forsyth canyons, burning mostly in the downed logs and underbrush in the conifer stands," he said. "Fire growth will continue to the east, northeast and southeast in Lloyd Canyon with limited spread to the northwest and west."
The fire generally remained on Saddle Mountain where, because of the remoteness and inaccessibility of the region, the burden of fighting the flames has fallen on the shoulders of the helicopter and air tanker crews.
On Sunday alone, tankers laid down ribbons of 22,000 gallons of retardant, focusing on the southern face of Saddle Mountain. Further south, where flames last week had approached within a mile of some homes, 675 firefighters and bulldozers continued to clear fire breaks and widen existing barriers.
While the tankers slowed any advances, helicopters bearing buckets of water directly attacked flareups and hot spots. Longer term, fire managers are hoping some showers and storms expected at the midweek will help crews gain the upper hand.
Venhuizen said those not owning property in Pine Valley are asked to stay out of the area. The Dixie National Forest's Pine Valley Recreation Area remained closed.
While there had been no repeat of last week's sightings of several drones over the fire's 5-mile flight exclusion zone, Gov. Gary Herbert said he wants to make future drone-related fire airspace violations a felony. Under current state law, flying an aircraft in banned fire areas is a misdemeanor; if a drone comes into contact with an authorized aircraft, a felony charge can be filed.
Up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine is possible for the misdemeanor, while a felony could double the fines and bring a prison term of up to 5 years.
Herbert has blamed three drone sightings — one within a few feet of a helicopter — for grounding air-tanker and helicopter flights early last week, and thus delaying firefighting efforts.
Twitter: @remims Informational meeting •
Fire managers and public safety officials will provide an update on southwest Utah's Saddle Fire at a community meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, at the Central community fire station, 155 E. Center Street.
— Washington County Emergency Management