FERRON, Utah, June 8 —A shift in winds late Thursday at the Trail Mountain Fire may have slowed its advance on East Mountain, moving it toward a previously burned area. The fire had grown from 300 to 878 acres during the day. The fire on East Mountain is being managed as a full suppression fire.
The fire, on the Manti-La Sal National Forest, is 15 miles northwest of Orangeville, Utah. It spread to East Mountain when a spot fire from a prescribed burn was hit by high winds during a thunderstorm Wednesday afternoon. The prescribed fire was declared a wildfire Wednesday night and additional crews and resources were brought in to help fight the fire. There are currently 208 personnel on the fire, with 12 engines, four helicopters, and four air tankers.
A high voltage power line in the path of the fire has been shut down, though it will not interrupt service for power customers. There are three private cabins on East Mountain which are not threatened by the fire at this time. Two are at least three miles from the fire, a third is at the south end of East Mountain and not in the path of the fire.
Local residents will continue to see smoke for several days. Forest Management officers are asking people to cooperate by staying out of the fire area until it is reopened.
A temporary flight restriction order is in place over the fire due to aviation activities in the area. Drones are banned in the airspace above the fire. Flying drones or unmanned aircraft systems within or near wildfires without permission could cause injury or death to firefighters and hamper their ability to manage the fire. There have been incursions from aircraft within the restricted airspace. Officers ask everyone to cooperate with the closure.
Only fire personnel are allowed within the burn area during firefighting operations. Indian Creek Campground is temporarily closed. Temporary closure of Forest Road 0040 (Cottonwood Canyon) has been implemented, as well as the closure of Forest Roads 0034, 2302, 2181, 2180, and 2182. Forest Trail 0051, the Trail Mountain CCC Trail is also temporarily closed. Closures are ordered for firefighter and public safety. Further closures may occur as necessary. Closures will remain in place until the fire is controlled.