Single Publication

Size at time of update: 33,041 Acres
Containment: 37%
Personnel: 343
Start: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Cause: Human Caused (Under Investigation)
Location: 10 miles southeast of Francis, Utah

At 7:00 AM this morning, the Northern Utah Type 3 Team took over management of the fire. 

Yesterday, Utah Department of Transportation opened State Road 35.  The North Fork Road and Mirror Lake Highway (SR 150) is also open. A Forest Closure remains in effect on both the Ashley and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests. Please drive cautiously and stay out of burned areas that have hot ash and fire-weakened trees.   We specifically ask hunters and recreationists to stay out of the Closure area.

 Last week’s rain and snow on the Yellow Lake Fire did not completely put the fire out.  Infrared radiation, taken at night, continues to detect heat signatures in various locations, some near the edge of the fire. Firefighters continue to see fire activity, including torching trees. Crews have been working to extinguish these before they become a threat to the line, as they attempt to increase containment. 

 Road conditions have improved, allowing firefighters access to almost all sides of the fire. Though some of the roads are still slippery and provide some safety hazards.  As the need for firefighting winds down, efforts to repair the scars left from suppression efforts ramp up.  Suppression repair is particularly important for water quality. 

 Most crew activity has been concentrated on the northside of the fire. Yesterday, crews installed water bars from an area near Iron Mine Mountain to the Soapstone community.  Water bars are logs angled into the slope to divert and slow channelized surface water, reducing erosion.  Roads and dozer lines on steeper slopes are targets for water bars.

 On the southside of the fire near Duchesne Ridge, crews are working with Resource Advisors to clean culverts plugged with soil and rock. Ditch lines and roads in this area may have been obstructed by fire suppression efforts and need to drain freely to improve water quality.

Forest Closures: 

• Updated October 18, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This Order shall remain in effect until November 25, 2024, unless rescinded. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/uwcnf/alerts-notices
• Updated October 19, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Ashley National Forest. This closure will remain in place through December 31, 2024, or until rescinded. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ashley/alerts-notices

For Updated Evacuation Zones: 

https://emergency-management-operations-wasatch.hub.arcgis.com/

https://tricountyemergencyalert.genasys.com/portal/en

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1208878.pdf