By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Fire crews battling the Birch Fire on Mount Nebo
report the blaze is still not completely controlled as of
Monday evening.
During the early stages of the fire, which has
continued to smolder in Willow Creek Canyon, an estimated
2,821 acres on the Mount Nebo Wilderness area near Nephi
were burned.
"We're pretty confident this fire isn't moving out of
where it's burning now," incident commander Tom Suwyn said.
"It isn't spreading up Willow Creek Canyon."
He said that, because of the steep and craggy
topography, crews were not able to contain the fire 100
percent.
Nevertheless, he said, the fire is not making any big
runs at present and is burning high on the mountain.
The fire has burned through Birch Creek Canyon and on
the south face of Willow Creek Canyon and was classified as
a Type I fire by Uinta National Forest officials because of
its size and the steep and rugged terrain where fire
fighting efforts had to be concentrated.
Elevations range from under 5,000 feet to the top of
Mount Nebo at 11,877 feet making it the highest peak in the
Wasatch Mountain Range. Although it is rocky and has many
cliffs, the mountain has a good trail system and is popular
with those who enjoy hiking, backpacking and horseback
riding opportunities.
Nonetheless, Willow Creek Canyon is so rugged and the
fuel so dry that fire fighting efforts have depended on
aircraft to assist with the effort. The use of water drops
by helicopter along with ground crews have proven
effective.
"The timber in Willow Creek Canyon is heavy and dry,"
said Loyal Clark, spokeswoman for the Uinta National Forest.
"It has made fighting the fire difficult because it is in
such an inaccessible and rugged area," Clark said.
The fire had been located in a volatile flame area
where there was dead pine, destroyed by the pine beetle. The
burning wood could not be timbered because of the terrain.
However, rocky areas are located at the ridge of the canyon
and should be effective in keeping the fire from growing in
that direction.
"If the weather stays in our favor and we can remain
patient, we should have the fire controlled soon," said fire
operations section chief Bob Mallet.
The fire has burned approximately 3,000 acres on Mount
Nebo at an estimated cost of more than $525,000.
Although no structures were located in the area, the
blaze did impact a water system in Birch Creek Canyon, which
provides irrigation water for farmers in Mona and Nephi.
"Rehabilitation work is expected to begin immediately
to prevent soil erosion in the area," said Clark.
The fire also burned several power poles and lines and
crews for these utilities have been called on to repair the
damage.
The wildfire, the third wildfire this year in the Nebo
Wilderness area, was started by humans and began at the edge
of Interstate 15 two weeks ago and burned up Birch Canyon on
the face of Mount Nebo in a matter of 20 minutes.
It is now confined to the south face of Willow Creek
canyon.
Along the Nebo Loop Scenic Highway, just over the
ridge from the fire site, there are the Monument and Andrews
Canyon Trailheads.
In the fire area, on the west face of the mountain,
are Willow Creek, Gardner Creek, and Birch Creek, all
located on Mount Nebo between Mona, on the north, and Nephi,
on the south.
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