East Fork & Center Creek Trail Fire Update
September 15, 2020
Virtual Community Meeting
TONIGHT, Sept. 15, 2020 at 7 p.m.
To learn more about current operations, closures and restrictions, tune in on the Ashley National Forest Facebook Page or on Zoom at: https://tinyurl.com/y4bu8ofc
East Fork Fire: Yesterday, the fire burned actively in heavy fuels northwest of the Moon Lake campground in Brown Duck Creek. Crews worked diligently along the Rock Creek drainage to increase containment line, while fuels burned actively in the West Fork Rock Creek. Crews continued successful firing operations west of Moon Lake Road and north of Bear Hollow Road, to hold fire progression to the southeast.
Center Creek Trail Fire: The Center Creek Trail Fire is showing limited fire behavior and currently poses no threat of moving south toward the wilderness boundary.
Closures: Closures are in effect for the Ashley National Forest and on Uintah and Ouray Tribal Lands. Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office has closed county roads in and near the fire area.
All closures are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7052/.
Closure Map: https://go.usa.gov/xG8PW
Today’s Operations: Burning operations should be completed by this evening on the south fire perimeter west of Bear Hollow Road to Mountain Sheep Pass. The north/northeast fire perimeter is expected to be active again today, burning along Brown Duck Creek. Helicopter water bucket drops will work along the eastern perimeter to cool hot spots as crews engage the fire when safe to do so. Crews and dozers should finish digging indirect containment lines ahead of the fire’s eastern perimeter today as well. Team 7’s long term strategy to contain all fire outside the wilderness continues.
Weather: Today’s temperatures are expected to be near 76 degrees. Relative humidities are low and fire behavior is active. Winds will be from the northwest early in the day at 7-9 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, with southeasterly winds later in the day. Large heavy fuels continue to burn, and grass and shrubs have dried and are receptive to fire. Active fire behavior is expected in higher elevations due to increased winds. Today’s burning operations will produce additional smoke, visible in surrounding communities. Weather tonight will be in the high 40s.
Safety: The public is asked to respect road and area closures. Please drive with caution as firefighters are working in the area and smoke reduces visibility. Drones are hazardous to fire aviation assets and are not permitted in the fire area. Remember: If you fly, we can’t. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority for Great Basin Team 7.
Resources: 4 Helicopters, 24 Engines, 5 water tenders, 1 Hotshot crew, 1 Type 2 Initial Attack handcrew, 2 dozers and 3 Wildland Fire Modules. Currently 283 firefighters are assigned to the East Fork Fire. The Center Creek Trail Fire has 25 firefighters assigned.
