Coal Hollow Fire Update: 8/15
Coal Hollow Fire Update
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team- Dan Dallas, Incident Commander
Information Center: 385-448-0929
Hours of operation: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6101
Email: 2018_utmlf_coalhollowfire@firenet.gov
August 15, 2018, 8 a.m.
NOTE: Public meeting will be held in Spanish Fork today, August 15 at 5:00 PM at the Maple Mountain High School, 51 N. Spanish Fork Parkway (2550 E). Representatives from the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, forest personnel from both the Manti-LaSal and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests, and cooperating state and county officials will be on hand to answer questions about the Coal Hollow Fire.
Current Situation: The closure on Hwy 6 was lifted last night at 8:00 pm. Currently all other evacuations and closures remain in place but are fluid and subject to change. Division J, in the northwest fire area, firefighters secured the corner of the fireline nearest Hwy 6. Lighter winds and cloud cover made conditions favorable and a successful firing operation was conducted. Helicopter water drops and fire retardant drops helped to prepare the area for firefighter ground work. Night crews secured the line following the firing operation and it has held. They will work to establish line from Lake Fork Road southward toward Division Z today.
On the north side of the fire along Hwy 6, Division M, saw less activity that the day before. The firefighters worked to improve the containment line and will continue to do so today. They will be working direct attack on Dairy Fork Road eastward to Mill Creek Road. Diamond Fork Road will be evaluated.
In Division Q, on the east flank, outflow winds pushed the fire toward Starvation Road. The road held. Heavy air tankers dropped 10 drops on the Division. A successful firing operation was conducted from Bennion Camp to Skyling Road, and night crews monitored and worked the area through the night. Today firefighters will work to improve handline and shrink the area of fire progression risk. Dozers will be working to establish lines.
There is a new division between Divisions Q and T, Division R. Firefighters will be utilizing the existing roads and digging indirect line to assist those doing structure protection to the east. Structure protection has been conducted on surrounding areas since the fire began. These crews will asses the structures around Skyline Road and Bennion Camp, implementing line and hose lays where necessary.
On the southern half of the fire, in Divisions T, X and Z, fire personnel reported little growth. In Division T, fire crews will work today to tie in fireline with Division Q where possible to form an anchor for firefighters to increase containment on the eastern side. Division X will be prepping the area to establish an anchor point as well.
Weather: The chance of thunderstorms will continue through the day today. Expect any thunderstorms that do develop to move slowly, which increases the potential for measurable rainfall. With a fresh burn scar, it will not take much rain to produce debris flows. Winds and lightning will be possible from thunderstorms in the area gusting up to 40 mph coming from the west. Terrain driven winds will accompany the storm. Inversions will be weak due to the overnight cloud cover and added humidity which will allow them to lift in the early morning.
Closures and Public Safety: Hwy 6 closure has been lifted; however, the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. Closure orders can be found on national forest websites at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mantilasal/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/uwcnf/alerts-notices.
Fire Statistics
Location: 15 miles southeast of Spanish Fork, UT Start Date: August 4, 2018
Size: 24,576 acres Total Personnel: 659 Cause: Lightning
Percent Contained: 2% (decrease reflects increase in total acres. No containment line has been lost.)
Resources Include: 5 Type 1 hand crews, 9 Type 2 hand crews, 39 engines, 4 dozers, 11 water tenders, 7 helicopters, 2 fixed wing air tankers, 2 CL-415 Scoopers, 2 air attack platforms, 2 masticators and overhead/support personnel
