The National Park Service closed the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and ordered all visitors to evacuate Sunday as the Babylon Fire continued to expand.
The fire, which started Saturday, is burning in Bears Ears National Monument near Blanding and has not spread into Canyonlands National Park. However, the National Park Service said the fire’s progression north toward the park and Highway 211 prompted the precautionary closure.
The Needles Visitor Center is closed until further notice. The park also suspended new backcountry overnight and day-use permits, campground reservations, day hiking and scenic driving in the district until the closure is lifted.
The Babylon Fire grew from 300 acres to 16,171 acres over a 24-hour period ending Sunday and had reached 38,399 acres by Monday morning, according to Holly Shyrer, public affairs officer for the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The fire remained 0% contained.
The blaze is one of several wildfires burning across Utah amid elevated wildfire danger.
The fire also prompted the U.S. Forest Service to close National Forest System lands, roads and trails within the Dark Canyon Wilderness and portions of Bears Ears National Monument on the Monticello Ranger District. The closure took effect Sunday and is scheduled to remain in effect through Aug. 31 unless rescinded.
The closure order prohibits the public from entering the affected area, including driving on closed forest roads or using trails within the closure boundary. Roads closed because of the fire include North Cottonwood Road, Causeway Road, Bridger Jack Road off Highway 211 and the junction of Kigalia and North Elk Ridge toward Big Notch.
No evacuations have been ordered for nearby communities. However, the Forest Service urged residents to stay informed through local officials in case conditions change.
The National Park Service said it will provide updates on the Needles closure as conditions warrant. Additional information about the Babylon Fire is available on the fire’s InciWeb page
This story was first published by The Times-Independent.