Peavine and Poison Canyon Fire Update 7_31
Confinement strategy successful, says District Ranger
BLANDING, Utah, July 31 –The Peavine Canyon Fire grew to 2407 acres on Tuesday evening, while fire crews continued using a planned confinement strategy. Average flames lengths are 1-2 feet and the fire is burning very well, consuming litter and undergrowth.
Monticello District Ranger Michael Diem explains, “A confinement strategy using roads, trails, and landscape features is an effective way to suppress fires. It provides reduced safety risk to firefighters, reduces the risk of larger more devastating wildfires, and yet ensures benefits to wildlife, watershed health, soils, healthy forests and vegetation.” Seventy-eight people are assigned to the fire. Transition to another Type III incident management team is expected to occur on Saturday.
The Poison Canyon Fire is 927 acres with no containment, and 41 people assigned. Crews are working to protect aspen research areas. As cooler and more humid air moves in, conditions are expected to decrease fire activity on both fires.
Trees, brush and grass within the burn areas have experienced multiple fires and have adapted over time to burning every 10 to 15 years. Natural fires caused by lightning have occurred for hundreds of years, burning with low flame lengths that consumed thick undergrowth, but did not involve the crowns of most trees. Ponderosa pines are an example of this type of fire-adapted forest.
Fire managers want the Peavine and Poison Canyon burn areas to restore fire’s role in the forest. The fire is being carefully managed, and will help restore the landscape to a more natural state, protecting the wilderness into the future. Managers consider values at risk, fuel and fire weather conditions, and availability of fire resources.
Closures, maps and more information are available on the Manti-La Sal National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mantilasal/. The Peavine Canyon Fire is located 22 miles west of Blanding, UT and the Poison Canyon Fire is located approximately 23 miles west of Monticello, UT.
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