A fire in the High Uintas Wilderness has forced evacuations in the surrounding area.
The East Fork Fire, which was ignited Friday by a lighting strike, is 0% contained and at 2,556 acres as of Sunday, according to InciWeb, a national wildfire tracking website. Hikers, hunters and others in the area have been asked to evacuate as the fire is “being allowed to play its natural role in the ecosystem,” per officials for the Ashley National Forest.
Areas evacuated due to the fire are Rock Creek, upper Blindstream, Moonlake Road and Yellowpine Campground.
The fire has caused several closures in the area as well. All of High Uintas Wilderness Area is closed west of Lake Fork Trail and Highline Trail, and from the Highline Trail to the boundary of the Ashley National Forest.
The Lake Fork trail itself is not closed, and only parts of the Highline trail are closed.
The Blindstream Road is closed at the forest boundary north of Hannah, Utah. Also closed is Rock Creek Road where it intersects with Forest Service Road 198, which leads to the Lower Stillwater Ponds picnic area.
Follow @AlexVReporting