Extremely hot and dry weather was forecast to continue into the weekend, although gusty winds should ease, fire officials said.
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A pre-evacuation notice has been issued for the following areas: Show Low, Pinetop, Lakeside, Fort Apache, Hondah, McNary and surrounding areas. Air tankers are dropping retardant and water to stop the flames from spreading.
A new wildfire has officials in our state on alert.
The fire started around noon on Wednesday and moved in a northeast direction influenced by wind, topography and fuels.
The Saddle Fire in the Pine Valley Wilderness area is reported to have burned approximately 103 acres.
“It is common floor lightning caused fires to show up days later”, Rechsteiner said.
However, a small community in Navajo County remained evacuated and thousands of other residents were told to be prepared in case they had to leave.
As of Thursday at 7:30 p.m. the Aspen Fire was reported to be 5 percent contained. No crews have been placed on the ground due to inaccessible steep terrain, said Mike Melton, fire management officer for the Southwest Utah area and a state aviation officer for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
Linden resident Kim Reabe says many want to avoid the potential bumper-to-bumper rush if evacuations are put in place.
Crews near Cedar City are battling a almost 400-acre wildfire that’s threatening 20 homes and structures – the Aspen fire near Bumblebee Mountain – as well as a 60-acre a couple miles south, according to a news release from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands.
The blaze has charred about 12.5 square miles, including thousands of acres that were set on fire by firefighters to deprive the fire of fuel.
Almost 89,000 gallons of fire retardant was dumped on the Aspen and Pine Canyon fires, while an unspecified amount of water was emptied on the Saddle Fire, all now burning in Southern Utah. Only a few homes have been evacuated so far. It is approximately 2 miles south of the Aspen Fire. one fire crew is attempting suppression.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Dave Zaniboni says the danger to the facility is minimal Thursday.
Buck Binnie of Show Low said he and his family will start packing if they hear evacuations are mandatory.
The fire ignited Wednesday and grew rapidly to throw up a huge plume of smoke.
Fire information officers say infrared mapping overnight helped officials determine a more accurate picture of the area that has burned.
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The second fire, the Pine Canyon Fire was reported yesterday afternoon, June 15, and is now at 60 acres with one crew on the ground.
