Alpine • If everything goes as planned, containment of the Quail Fire is just a few days away thanks to some help from Mother Nature and the swift action of 500 fire personnel.
The blaze that drove 500 Alpine residents from their homes Tuesday and scorched 2,243 acres was at 65 percent containment and may be turned back over to local crews within a few days, fire authorities said Friday. Crews, helicopters and other resources are being scaled back and sent to other fires or home. Authorities are optimistic about putting this fire out soon.
"We are feeling pretty good ... ," said Eastern Basin Team fire spokesman Mark Regan of the rapid containment over the past two days. "The rain that came in helped."
At 6 p.m. Friday, authorities closed roads within the Pleasant Grove Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests around the fire perimeter.
Crews hope to improve containment Saturday with the help of helicopter rappelling teams to build fire containment lines at higher elevations. Temperatures are predicted to climb a bit from Thursday's cooldown, with some slight winds, but Regan said it shouldn't hamper firefighting efforts.
While the cause of the Quail Fire is still under investigation by the U.S Forest Service, Lone Peak Fire Department Fire Chief Brad Freeman said that based on several eyewitness statements he doesn't think the human-caused fire was started on purpose. The Utah County Sheriff's Office has said the fire was started Tuesday by a trackhoe working near Lambert Park.
"The operator tried to throw dirt on the fire, but he couldn't then he moved [the trackhoe] out of the way," Freeman said.
Freeman said locally owned Patterson Construction is planning a subdivision in the area and was digging a trench as part of a geotechnical study. It is still unclear if it was even the trackhoe that started the fire or something else in the area, Freeman said.
Meanwhile, authorities in southern Utah's Shingle Fire lifted evacuation orders for communities north of Highway 14. State Road 14 was also opened, though motorists were asked not to stop along the highway.
Another evacuation at the Swain Creek subdivision was slated to be lifted Saturday. The 8,200-acre Kane County fire was started by sparks from an all-terrain vehicle.
Fire crews fighting the Church Camp Fire in Duchesne County achieved 100 percent containment Friday. That fire, which started June 25, burned 7,200 acres and damaged 18 structures.
Quail Fire
Location • One mile east of Alpine
Started • Tuesday
Acres burned • 2,243
Cause • Human
Contained • 65 percent
Evacuations • Following an initial evacuation of 500 homes, all residents were allowed to return Thursday. Roads are closed within the Pleasant Grove Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests around the fire perimeter.
Shingle Fire
Location • Kane County
Started • Sunday
Acres burned • 8,200
Cause • Sparks from an ATV
Contained • 40 percent
Evacuations • Swains Creek and Stout Canyon subdivisions, and portions of Ponderosa Village and Harris Flats subdivisions south of Highway 14.
Uinta Fire
Location • On forest land in Uintah County, approximately 18 miles northwest of Neola.
Started • Wednesday
Acres burned • 11
Cause • Under investigation
Contained • 0 percent
Evacuations • None
Seeley Fire
Location • Carbon County
Started • June 26
Acres burned • 48,799 acres
Cause • Lightning
Contained • 21 percent
Evacuations • Access to Scofield will be allowed Saturday morning only at State Road 6 and S.R. 96 junction.Evacuations include the Electric Lake area, Scofield, Clear Creek, Miller Flat Reservoir area, Cleveland Campground, Hog Flat area and two youth camps. Due to its proximity to the fire, a major oil and gas field has been shut down.
Clay Springs Fire
Location • Millard County
Started • June 27
Acres burned • 108,132 acres
Cause • Human
Contained • 81 percent
Injuries • Two firefighters suffered serious burns
Damage • 1 summer home has been destroyed, 125 homes threatened.
Evacuations • None
Wolf Den Fire
Location • Uintah County, 35 miles south of Vernal
Started • June 29
Acres burned • 19,865
Cause • Lightning
Contained • 60 percent
Evacuations • None
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