9/26 Mirror Lake Complex Update

Fire Information Line: (208) 495-4228 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)  |     Email: 2018.MirrorLakeComplex@firenet.gov

Facebook: U.S. Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6223/

 Summary: There was no significant growth on the Mirror Lake Complex Tuesday. As a whole, the size of the complex grew 67 acres, primarily on the Murdock fire. Firefighters were able to increase the Complex’s containment by three percent Tuesday. It is now 20 percent contained.

here are now 200 firefighters working on the Murdock and Slate fires. Given the very steep, rocky and dead and down timber spread across the fire areas, this increase in capacity is sufficient to meet firefighter’s goals. In the high altitude areas that are steep and inaccessible to firefighters, an airplane is serving as an air traffic controller for the five helicopters. It is keeping eyes on the fires as they gradually move north and eastward

Weather: An increasing dry air mass will be over both fire areas the next few days. This air mass from the artic brings with it very dry, cold and windy conditions that will allow the fires to grow down and across the steep slopes of the Uinta Mountains. By the end of the week, a warming trend should begin to set up.

Today: On Tuesday, wind pushed the Murdock Fire north along the Murdock Basin canyon and east across the Duchesne River. The new growth across the river is approximately two acres in size, located in an inaccessible area to firefighters. Heavy standing and down trees, combined with wind and very steep topography that is aligned with the wind will allow the fire to grow towards the High Uintas Wilderness.

In the event the Murdock fire begins to threaten the Mirror Lake area, firefighters are performing structure assessments to protect the Mirror Lake Guard Station, Mirror Lake Campground and Lost Lake Campground should the Murdock Fire aggressively move northwest. The Fire is currently active east of Echo Lake.

On the Slate Fire, mixed conifer stands, aspen and rock outcroppings and sparse brush is making it difficult for the fire to grow rapidly. Hand crews are containing the northern flank of the fire, extinguishing hot spots where trees are occasionally torching out. Firefighters are also assessing structures in the Swift Creek area. This work will help firefighters locate and better defend the area in the event the fire does move north.

National Forest Trail and Road Closures are in place.

Murdock Fire: A temporary road and trail closure is in place. The closure begins at the Murdock Basin Road (Forest Service road#137) two miles up from Utah State Highway 150 at the staging area, Forest Service road #027, and ATV Trail #304 are also closed.

Slate Fire: Yellow Pine Trail (Trail #240) is closed. Smoke may be visible from Highway 40 and Highway 150 around the Slate Creek and Yellow Pine areas, especially in the late afternoon.