Southern Utah News Front Page: June 10, 2021

Fire continues to rage near Mammoth Creek Village

Aerial view of the Mammoth Fire rumbling through the Dixie National Forest. The fire started on June 5, 2021, and was caused by lightning. Courtesy of Dixie National Forest.

By Kevin Abel, Public Affairs, Dixie National Forest

Wildland fire crews will continue work on the fire edge to protect the Wildland Urban Interface of Mammoth Creek Village. Fire resources were able to protect structures successfully in the Mammoth Creek Village using crews, engines, and dozers with support from aviation assets including air tankers and helicopters. The fire continues to burn through Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir to the southeast. Most of Southern Utah is experiencing Red Flag conditions, with wind gusts of 20 mph expected throughout the week.

Color Country Type 3 Incident Management Team Fonger managed the Mammoth Fire until 6 a.m.  June 8, when Great Basin Incident Management Type 2 Team 5 assumed responsibility of the fire.

Start Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021, 11:55 a.m. 

Location: one mile south of Mammoth Creek Village

Jurisdiction: Dixie National Forest 

Fire Size: 709 acres  

Cause: Lightning

Closures/evacuation: Mammoth Creek Village has been evacuated. No through access on Forest Hwy 50/Mammoth Hwy. 

Fuels: timber, grass 

Structures: Structures are threatened. Fire managers are requesting the public’s assistance by avoiding the area to allow fire resources to access the fire.  

Fire Crews/Resources: Resources on the fire include 20 engines, seven single engine air tankers, two large air tankers, three air attack aircraft, four helicopters, one bulldozer, three hotshot crews, one type 2 IA crew, three Squads and two water tenders.

Containment: 14 percent (at time of publication).

Fire Restrictions: Due to dry conditions and an increase in wildfire activity throughout southern Utah, federal and state agencies implemented stage 1 fire restrictions on May 26, 2021, including public lands managed by the Dixie National Forest. Fire restrictions are a tool many agencies use to restrict activities known to be the most common causes of wildfires. Preventing wildfires keeps communities and firefighters safe; reducing their risk and exposure to injury, smoke, and disease. Activities that are prohibited under the stage 2 fire restriction include:  

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove. (Propane and pressurized liquid or gas stoves, grills or lanterns that include shut-off valves are permitted when used in an area of at least six feet or more cleared of flammable material such as grass and brush.) 

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building 

• Welding or the use of any torch, metal cutting or grinding equipment 

• Operating any internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw or similar power tools 

• Discharging a firearm except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal laws and regulations 

• Using fireworks, exploding targets, and incendiary devices, which are prohibited year-round 

Safety: To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  

Reducing wildfire risk through fuels management remains as an essential Department of the Interior activity. In addressing priority work, agencies are taking steps to limit the risks from COVID-19 to ensure the health and safety of firefighters. They are also taking action through established frameworks for consideration of impacts from prescribed fire, including the potential impact of smoke from prescribed fires on those who have contracted COVID-19 or who may be at risk. 

For more information on the Mammoth Fire please visit www.utah Fire Info. Updates will also be provided via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usfsdnf.

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