Ether Hollow Fire update Sept. 15, 2020

September 15, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Location: East of Springville, UT        

Email: 2020.William@firenet.gov
 
Phone: 1-435-414-9418

Start Date: September 7, 2020

Cause: Human caused, target shooting   

Acres: 849

Percent Contained: 86%    

Personnel Assigned: 35

As Great Basin Incident Management Team 3 continues to fight the Ether Hollow Fire, two fire suppression strategies are being implemented. The first approach is Full Suppression, and the remaining portion of the fire has been identified for a Confine Strategy. This area is southwest of the Hobble Creek Golf Course on the northeast side of Ether Peak. The dual approach will meet the objective of 100% full perimeter containment where fuels and terrain are favorable for successful suppression and provide for firefighter safety.

Confine Strategy, as defined by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), “is to restrict a wildfire to a defined area, using a combination of natural and constructed barriers that will stop the spread of the fire under the prevailing and forecasted weather conditions until out.” Helicopter bucket drops will be used as an action to suppress the Confine portions of the fire perimeter that firefighters cannot access.

The unified decision to implement the Confine Strategy was made in coordination with the State of Utah Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Forest Service, and fire officials in Utah County. The decision-makers have evaluated and considered the hazardous terrain and the inability for firefighters to suppress the fire safely in the Ether Peak area.

Firefighters continue to identify and implement control lines in strategic locations that will insure the highest percent of success of a 100% full perimeter containment and firefighter safety. Firefighters are implementing actions that protect local, state, and federal lands and utilities in the event the fire advances beyond its current location.

Current Status: Today crews will continue work to gain more containment on the northeast portion of the fire.

Whiting Campground, Maple Canyon trail #006 and Right Fork trail #007 remain closed. We ask that the public stay away from the fire area for the safety of the firefighters and the public. https://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf

Hunters with limited entry Bull Elk tags and archers, please check your hunting unit and be sure to stay out of the closed areas. We aim to keep our firefighters and public safe, your aim will help.

Weather: There is a red flag warning in effect. The next few days will trend warmer and drier with temperatures forecast in the upper 80s with gusting terrain driven winds 10-15 mph.

Fire behavior today is expected to be minimal with possible pockets of interior torching, smoldering and surface creeping. More smoke may be visible as sun and wind warm and dry fuels available in the fire area.

There is a fuel and fire behavior advisory in effect for critically dry fuels through September 25th, 2020.

A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) has been implemented over the fire area – which means recreational drones and private aircraft cannot fly over the fire. The TFR can be found here: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_6165.html. Please remember, if you fly, we can’t.

Fire information can be found on InciWeb at or https://utahfireinfo.gov/. Check out News & Events and ‘Like Us’ on facebook.com/UtahWildfire , and ‘Follow Us’ on twitter.com/UtahWildfire for further information.