Pack Creek Fire Update

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Contact Fire Information: (435) 287-4126 or [email protected] 

Visit www.utahfireinfo.gov or on Twitter @UtahWildfire

Summary: With more firefighters and support personnel arriving in Moab this morning, the Great Basin Incident Management Team 4 will continue building containment lines, focusing on the Pack Creek community to ensure that the area is safe for evacuated residents to return to their homes. Crews from Rocky Mountain Power have restored electricity in Pack Creek. The fire stands at 5,164 acres, with 0 percent containment, but incident managers expect containment numbers to grow by Saturday evening. Manti-La Sal National Forest officials are developing an area closure order for the west face of the La Sal Mountains today to maintain public safety and allow incident crews to safely access fire lines.

Start Date: Wednesday, June 9 

Location: Pack Creek, 10 miles southeast of Moab 

Cause: Abandoned campfire 

Fire Size and Containment: 5,164 acres, 0 percent containment 

Jurisdiction: U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and State of Utah

Fire Behavior: Relatively light winds forecast for Saturday should allow hand crews to strengthen fire lines in Pack Creek and perform structure protection work in residential areas along upper La Sal Loop Road. 

Structures Lost and Threatened: Four primary structures and six outbuildings were lost in the Pack Creek community, and five primary structures were damaged by fire. 

Evacuations and Road Closures: Pack Creek residents were evacuated Wednesday afternoon, and La Sal Loop Road was closed from Pack Creek to Geyser Pass. More area closures are expected Saturday, but evacuations are being evaluated and could be relaxed in the next 24 hours.

Fuels and Terrain: The fire is burning in grass, brush and timber. The terrain is rugged, with steep canyons and basins.