By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The wildfire currently burning out-of-control on Mount
Nebo, just two miles southeast of Santaquin, is the largest
in the state to date and is the second fire located on the
mountain this year.
U.S. Forest Service fire suppression officials have no
control over the fire and do not know when it will be
contained. The fire has destroyed 10,000 acres and,
according the National Fire Information Center, is still
0-percent contained.
A natural emergency declaration, issued by Gov. Mike
Leavitt late Sunday night, resulted in additional resources
being mobilized to fight the huge wildfire. The action
brought help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
and the federal government will now pay 70 percent of fire
costs and the blaze will become a priority target for
suppression.
But Mollie, the fire was named after a local landmark,
wasn't the only fire to keep firefighters busy. Lightening
storms caused several other fires to flare up in Juab
County. For a time on Sunday, firefighters were called out
to battle fires threatening a microwave tower near Levan and
another fire threatening a power substation near Mona. They
also responded to several other small fires.
"The blaze that started in Santaquin Canyon Saturday
evening forced the evacuation of 400 campers in Payson and
Santaquin Canyons," said National Forest Service Fire
Information Officer Loyal Clark. "The Nebo Loop Road is
closed to traffic."
As the fire started, it threatened more than 200
homes, worth $44 million, placing residents of Spring Lake
on alert for a possible evacuation, but firefighters held
the line. Campers, hunters and a Girl Scout camp in
Santaquin Canyon were evacuated and the canyons remain
closed.
As flames closed in on 50 to 60 homes on Saturday,
firefighters plowed a firebreak behind homes and lighted a
backfire.
Forest Service officials hope tripling the manpower on
the fire lines today will slow the blaze that blew up from
200 acres to an estimated 10,000 acres in just over a
day.
"Conditions on the mountain are extremely dry," said
Clark.
Because of the pine beetle infestation, many of the
pine trees along the canyon are dead. The dry trees are
highly volatile, as a result.
"This is probably our worst case scenario," she said.
"We have extreme fire behavior and the wind has pushed the
fire. The fire spread so quickly because it had winds
pushing it in both directions in the canyons."
The situation on the ground has been dangerous for
ground crews. Nevertheless, the number of fire crews working
the blaze was expected to grow from three to nine today,
bringing the tally to over 180.
More than 300 firefighters were expected to arrive at
the fire. Those firefighters were needed to attack the fire
from the ground.
Five air tankers and one helicopter have been dropping
water and retardant on the fire line. Between 5 p.m. and 9
p.m. Sunday, choppers and all aircraft were grounded by high
winds and thunderstorms over the fire which created
turbulent conditions unsuitable for aircraft operations.
Weather conditions also forced ground fire crews to
pull back.
"That storm front came through and we had a tremendous
wind event," Clark said. After the storm passed, crews were
sent back in.
Extra air power had been requested, said Clark. Four
more helicopters were expected to join the fight.
East Bench Estates, a subdivision that straddles the
edge of the wilderness in Santaquin Canyon, was evacuated
early Sunday morning when a fire storm threatened homes,
Clark said. Residents were allowed to return later Sunday.
However, firefighters are still uneasy about the residents
of the area and are watching closely for any wind
shifts.
Investigators have determined the blaze was
human-caused, but Clark said they are not releasing any
information about how it was started.
"This has been very unusual extreme behavior for
fire," she said. "It has exhibited rapid spreading in a
short time over a very large area, which is indicative of
how very dry the vegetation is at all elevations."
Forecasted rain showers could improve the situation if
the rain actually materializes and if cooler temperatures
accompany the rain.
"We have personnel from Idaho, Arizona, Utah,
Colorado, Nevada, and more are due in Monday. That is a huge
improvement from the situation when the fire started," Clark
said.
She also commended local fire officials. "The
cooperative efforts of a lot of local agencies deserve
thanks, including state crews, Utah County crews, Juab
County, Santaquin, Payson, Spanish Fork and
Springville."
Law enforcement officers from the local areas were
standing guard at the mouth of canyon roadways leading into
the fire zone to turn traffic back.
Clark also made a plea to discourage curiosity
seekers.
"We understand it's a fascinating event, yet, during
that moment of curiosity and fascination, we would ask the
public to remember that fire personnel need access to the
location quickly. We would ask people who come to see the
fire to select a location that won't impede the access of
firefighters," Clark said.
"We had a very difficult time during the initial
attack phase," Clark said. "At that time, only 40
firefighters, one air tanker and one helicopter were
assigned. We were competing with all the other fires in the
western United States for the same resources."
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