The Babylon Fire has surpassed 100,000 acres as firefighters continue working to keep the nation’s largest active wildfire within established containment lines in southeastern Utah.

The wildfire remained 0% contained Tuesday morning after growing to 100,479 acres about 25 miles southwest of Monticello, according to the U.S. Forest Service. As of Tuesday morning, 1,204 personnel, including 30 hand crews, 58 engines, 21 helicopters, 17 water tenders and four dozers, were assigned to the incident.

The most active fire growth Monday occurred along the eastern and northeastern portions of the blaze, according to Tuesday’s incident update. Fire officials said the fire’s growth was anticipated, and firefighters have remained focused on strengthening indirect containment features intended to keep the blaze within the broader containment strategy while taking advantage of opportunities to directly attack portions of the fire where conditions allow.

On the northern edge of the fire, firefighters were able to engage directly along portions of the fire perimeter, extinguishing heat and strengthening containment where it was safe to do so, according to the update.

Along the eastern flank, aircraft dropped fire retardant to slow the fire’s advance while structure protection crews continued assessing and improving protection measures for homes, infrastructure and other critical facilities around Monticello. Operations Chief Jeff Sanocki said additional fire engines were assigned Tuesday to the northern and southern structure protection groups between Monticello and Blanding to prepare in case the fire moves farther east.

On the southern and western portions of the fire, firefighters and heavy equipment operators continued reinforcing roads and other control features by clearing vegetation and improving access for firefighting resources.

The wildfire started June 26 and has burned across federal lands in southeastern Utah, including portions of Bears Ears National Monument and the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Five structures have been destroyed, and the cause is currently unknown.

The six areas west of Monticello that entered SET status, meaning a pre-evacuation advisory, Monday remained under that advisory Tuesday, according to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. The SET status applies to the CY-1, CY-2, Peters Hill West, Airport 1, Energy and SJC-1 zones. Residents in those zones should gather essential items, medications and important documents, prepare family members, pets and livestock, and be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen. The advisory does not currently include the city of Monticello.

Fire officials said Tuesday’s weather is expected to remain hot and critically dry, with relative humidity falling to between 13% and 15% and west-southwest wind gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Forecasters also warned that pyrocumulus clouds and dry lightning could develop during the afternoon. Combined with extremely dry fuels, gusty winds and unstable atmospheric conditions, those factors are expected to support very active fire behavior.

Extensive public land closures remain in effect. The entire Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest remains closed to the public, along with the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.

The Bureau of Land Management has also temporarily closed public lands west of Harts Draw Road and north through the Indian Creek Corridor to Indian Creek Falls, including Shay Mesa, Beef Basin, Dark Canyon and the Sweet Alice Wilderness Study Area. Officials continue to advise the public to avoid all closure areas and public lands within the boundaries of state Route 211 to the north, Highway 191 to the east and state Route 95 to the south while firefighting operations continue.

Additional information is available on the Babylon Fire InciWeb page.

This story was first published by The Times-Independent.