Public Meeting

Friday, September 18, 2020

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Information on fire suppression operations on the William Fire

 Mona City Park

Old Highway 91 and West 100 North Street 

For those who would like to join virtually, the meeting will be streamed via Facebook Live on www.facebook.com/UtahWildfire and posted after the meeting.

The meeting will be outdoors with standing space only to allow for social distancing. We ask that CDC guidelines are followed and masks are recommended when distancing cannot be maintained.

Questions may be directed to William and Ether Hollow Fire Information at: 2020.william@firenet.gov or 435-414-9418

September 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Location: 2 miles south of Santaquin, UT                                                                                                           
Email: 2020.William@firenet.gov

Start Date: September 6, 2020                                                                                                           
Phone: 1-435-414-9418

Cause: Human caused, target shooting                                                                                                           
Acres: 5,450

Containment: 43%                                                                                                           

Personnel Assigned: 195

Current Status: Crews safely completed the intended firing operations along the control line on the western flank of the fire. The intent was to secure this previously uncontained and inaccessible area of the fire. Firefighters can now obtain containment between the active parts of the fire and important power transmission lines and the I-15 corridor.

There was one slopover on the southwest end of the burnout which was lined and secured last night before the firing operations continued. The burnout was successful in terrain where firefighters could safely build containment lines to meet the 100% Suppression Strategy. This portion of line can now be mopped up, patrolled and secured – contributing to the overall containment of the fire. Smoke and flames may be visible as fuels continue to consume interior from the fire perimeter throughout the day.

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

Weather: Today temperatures are predicted to be in the upper 80s. Humidity will be in the low teens. Southwest winds are expected ahead of a dry cold front, gusting 15 to 22 mph. There is a red flag warning in effect for today.

Moderate fire behavior in the form of smoldering and surface creep and isolated torching in heavy mountain brush/grass, mixed conifer and riparian stringers. There is a fuel and fire behavior advisory in effect for critically dry fuels through September 25, 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. Details can be found here: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_1623.html. Remember, “IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T.”

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

September 17, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.

September 16, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

 
 Location: 2 miles south of Santaquin, UT                                                                                                           
 Email: 2020.William@firenet.gov

Start Date: September 6, 2020                                                                                                           
 Phone: 1-435-414-9418

Cause: Human caused, target shooting                                                                                                           
 Acres: 4,346

Containment: 45%                                                                                                           
Personnel Assigned: 154

Containment percentages on the William Fire will reflect the two strategies of Full Suppression and Confine Strategy. The areas where firefighters can safely access and build fireline have been contained and reflect 45% of the fire perimeter. That portion of the fire is 100% contained. Crews are working on the remaining 55% of the fire area where the Confine Strategy is being used to find where firelines and natural barriers that can be used to suppress the fire.

Current Status:  Crews continue to mop up, improve, and secure the line along the fire’s edge. Infrared mapping flights will continue to provide data to assess areas of heat within the fire perimeter. Dozer line near Eli Ranch will be repaired to return it to a more natural state.

There are closures on Pole Canyon Road and the Mona Pole Road (Forest Service road #600/#160) and details can be found on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf. We ask that the public stay away from the area for the safety of the firefighters and the public.  

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

Weather: Today will be sunny, warmer and drier with temperatures predicted near 90. Humidity will be low and winds will be terrain driven gusting 9 to 12 mph. Strong southwest winds are expected late in the week ahead of a dry cold front.  

Moderate fire behavior is expected today in the form of smoldering and surface creeping. Isolated torching is expected in the heavy brush and conifers. 

There is a fuel and fire behavior advisory in effect for critically dry fuels through September 25, 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. Details can be found here: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_1623.html. Remember, “IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T.”

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

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

Location: 2 miles south of Santaquin, UT    

Email: 2020.William@firenet.gov 

Phone: 1-435-414-9418

Start Date: September 6, 2020                                                             

Cause: Human caused, target shooting 

Acres: 4,346
 

Percent Contained: 45%  
                                                                   

 Personnel Assigned: 145

As Great Basin Incident Management Team 3 continues to fight the William 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 starts east at Wash Canyon Road, south to North Creek, east to Bald Mountain and north to Eli Ranch at the Mt Nebo Wilderness boundary above Santaquin Canyon Road. 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 Juab County and Utah County. The decision-makers have evaluated and considered the hazardous terrain and the inability for firefighters to suppress the fire safely within the Mt. Nebo Wilderness.

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:  Firefighters today will continue mop-up and begin suppression repair on dozer line.

There are closures on Pole Canyon Road and the Mona Pole Road (Forest Service road #600/#160) and details can be found on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf. We ask that the public stay away from the area for the safety of the firefighters and the public.

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

Weather: Today will be sunny, warmer and drier with some smoke haze. Temperatures are predicted to be in the high 80s to low 90s with relative humidity possible in the single digits. Terrain driven winds predicted at 10-15 gusting to 18 mph.

Fire behavior today is expected to be mainly interior surface burning and isolated torching. There is a fuel and fire behavior advisory in effect for critically dry fuels through September 25, 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. Details can be found here: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_1623.html. Remember, “IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T.”

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

September 14, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Location: 2 miles south of Santaquin, UT                                                                                                           

Email: 2020.William@firenet.gov

Start Date: September 6, 2020                                                                                                           
Phone: 1-435-414-9418

Cause: Human caused, target shooting                                                                                                           
Acres: 4,332

Percent Contained: 61%                                                                                                           
Personnel Assigned: 197

 Flight incursions from aircraft and drones force fire air resources to land, delaying critical support to firefighters on the ground. If you are a pilot you must check NOTAMs before finalizing your flight plan. There have been multiple drone and fixed wing incursions on fires in the past few days putting all involved at risk.

A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) has been implemented over the fire area – which means recreational drones and private aircraft cannot fly over the fire. Details can be found here: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_1623.html. Remember, “IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T.”

Current Status:  On the north flank of the fire, crews are working from Eli Ranch towards the forest boundary to secure the fireline in that area. They will be mopping up hot spots in a swath 100 feet wide.

Firefighters continue to identify and implement control actions in the event the fire moves beyond the uncontained perimeter. Alternate suppression tactics are being initiated in the steep, inaccessible terrain to ensure firefighter safety.

Firefighters who hiked to the spot fire south of the main fire were able to locate the hot spot identified by infrared mapping and extinguish it completely. Three helicopters assigned to the William Fire and the Ether Hollow Fire will be shared with the Goshen Fire today if needed. Aerial missions will be prioritized among the three fires by the Air Operations Branch Director.

There are closures on Pole Canyon Road and the Mona Pole Road (Forest Service road #600/#160) and details can be found on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf. We ask that the public stay away from the area for the safety of the firefighters and the public.

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

Weather: Today will be sunny, warmer and drier with some smoke haze. Temperatures are predicted to be in the high 80s with relative humidity in the low teens. There is a red flag warning today.

Rollout on steep terrain can result in short upslope surface fire runs. Stands of timber, maple and gambel oak on northerly aspects and drainages have the greatest potential for fire activity today. There is a fuel and fire behavior advisory in effect for critically dry fuels through September 25, 2020.

 September 13, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Location: 2 miles south of Santaquin, UT Email: 2020.William@firenet.gov Start Date: September 6, 2020 Phone: 1-435-414-9418 Cause: Human caused, target shooting Acres: 4,332 Percent Contained: 55% Personnel Assigned: 200 Current Status: Today firefighters will continue to mop up and improve the fireline on the north flank of the fire. The crews will mop up hot spots 100 feet into the interior to ensure wind and rolling debris won’t ignite fire in unburned fuel outside the line. Firefighters will hike into the 3 acre spot south of the main fire to check hot spots that were identified in the area by the infrared mapping flight. Development of a Strategic Plan continues for the southern portion of the fire. It includes tactical options for parts of the fire that impact safety of firefighters due to extreme terrain. Contingency dozer line has been completed on the west side of the fire for suppression options should the fire move in that direction. There are closures on Pole Canyon Road and the Mona Pole Road (Forest Service road #600/#160) and details can be found on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf. We ask that the public stay away from the area for the safety of the firefighters and the public. Hunters with limited entry Bull Elk tags, please check your unit, be sure to stay out of the closure area. We aim to keep the public and firefighters safe, your aim will help. Aircraft are still actively working over the fire and private or recreational drones as well as aircraft are excluded from flying in the area. There is an active Temporary Flight Restriction with a radius of 5 miles around the fire. Weather: Today the warming and drying trend continues with temperatures forecast in the upper 80s and relative humidity in the low teens. Moderate fire behavior is expected with increased smoldering and burning on the interior of the fire. Visible smoke is expected, especially on south and west facing slopes. There is a fuel and fire behavior advisory in effect for critically dry fuels through September 25, 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 was changed at 07:00 am, September 13, 2020 and details can be found here: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_1623.html. Remember, “IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T.” Fire information can be found on Utah Wildfire Information at https://utahfireinfo.gov/. Check out News & Events and ‘Like Us’ on facebook.com/UtahWildfire , and ‘Follow Us’ on twitter.com/UtahWildfire for further information 

 Order No 04-19-465 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE 857 WEST SOUTH JORDAN PARKWAY SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH 84095 SPECIAL ORDER OF FOREST SUPERVISOR UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST SPANISH FORK RANGER DISTRICT TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE PROHIBITION: Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a) and 36 CFR 261.50(b), the following acts are prohibited on the National Forest System road described in this order. The road affected is located on the Spanish Fork Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This order is in effect when signed September 7, 2020 and shall remain in effect until rescinded. 1. Being in or upon the Mona Pole road (Forest Service road #600/#160) as described below and shown on attached map. This includes any type of motorized vehicle, all pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle use. [36 CFR 261.53 (e)] EXEMPTIONS: Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order: 1. Persons with a permit specifically exempting them from the effect of this order. 2. Any Federal, state or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty. 3. Federal or State administrative personnel in performance of an official duty. AREA DESCRIPTION: The Mona Pole road (Forest Service road #600/160) is closed at the forest boundary east to the intersection with the Nebo Loop road (Forest Service road #015) at the Monument trailhead. Forest Service road #600 located in Township 11 South, Range 1.2 East, Sections 7 and 8, Township 11 South, Range 1 East, Sections 23 and 24 and Forest Service road #160 located in Township 11 South, Range 1.2 East, Section 7, Township 11 South, Range 2 East, Sections 17, 18 and 20 All within the Salt Lake Based Meridian as shown on attached map. PURPOSE: The Mona Pole road (Forest Service road #600/160) closure is for firefighter and public safety during fire suppression efforts of the William fire. IMPLEMENTATION: 1. This Order will be in effect when signed September 7, 2020 and shall remain in effect until rescinded. 2. Attached map shows the area affected by this Order. 3. Violation of the above prohibition(s) is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization and/or imprisonment for not more than 6 months. [Title 16 USC 551, Title 18 USC 3571(b) (6), Title 18 USC 3581(b) (7)]. 4. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Spanish Fork Ranger District, (801) 798-3571 or the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Supervisors Office, (801) 999-2103. 5. This Order supersedes any previous Order(s) prohibiting the same, or similar acts prohibited by this Order in the area covered by this Order. Done at Salt Lake City, Utah this 7th day of September 2020. David C. Whittekiend Forest Supervisor Order Number: 04-19-465 

September 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

 September 12, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.