NORTH OGDEN — The evacuation order for North Ogden residents affected by the Willard Peak Fire was downgraded to “green” on Saturday as fire crews increased containment of the wildfire.
The Weber County Sheriff’s Office and the Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team “feel comfortable that it is safe to downgrade the evacuation order” based on the success of suppression efforts, city officials said in a midday social media post.
The downgrade, which applies to residents east of 1050 East and north of 2850 North, essentially means there is no imminent fire danger to residents or their homes. Still, fire officials caution residents to be aware of fire conditions in general and “prepare ahead of time for hazards that might threaten their homes and community.”
The Willard Peak Fire was sparked on Wednesday afternoon by an apparent car fire, investigators said. The fire had burned 577 acres and was 56% contained, fire officials said in an evening update. Full containment may still take time due to the fire being in steep, rocky terrain.
Beulah Fire
Meanwhile, the Beulah Fire continues to burn in the High Uintas of Summit County. The wildfire had scorched 4,341 acres and was 28% contained on Saturday evening.
Firefighters got a boost Saturday from rain, which kept fire activity limited, and progress was made on repair and preparation efforts around the fire, according to a post on the U.S. Forest Service’s Facebook page.
The forest service also shared a few glimpses into what is called a “spike camp,” where fire crews are staying. A spike camp, which is a temporary remote camp near a fireline, allows firefighters to remain close to the area and reduce travel, the Forest Service said.
The wildfire started on Aug. 7, and its cause remains under investigation.
A reminder that the Summit County Sheriff’s Office has established notification zones for people near the Beulah Fire. Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to sign up for these alerts, which they can do here, and any changes will come directly from the Summit County sheriff.
Monroe Canyon Fire
Heading further south, the Monroe Canyon Fire — the state’s largest fire — reached 55% containment on Saturday, according to an update from fire officials; it was at 4% two weeks ago.
The wildfire started July 13 near the town of Monroe in Sevier County, and has grown to 73,655 acres, becoming one of the largest fires in the United States. It is believed to be human-caused.
Crews made some progress in suppressing the wildfire on Friday, thanks to low temperatures, increased humidity and cloud cover, according to a statement from Great Basin Incident Management Team 2. Much of the progress happened east of Marysvale and southwest from Box Creek to Smith Canyon.
Thunderstorms produced 0.5 inches of rain near Koosharem, with nominal precipitation on the west side of the fire, the update says. More scattered thunderstorms similar to Friday are expected as fire conditions ease, though temperatures will rise starting Monday, which could fuel more fire activity, officials said.
Contributing: Jordan Ormond
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