Updated Friday, July 12, 12:29 a.m.
On Thursday Silver King Fire, which started Friday, July 5, eight miles outside of Marysvale, had reached 14,851 acres at 0% containment. On Friday, a week since it began, it was at 2%.
This fire was a result of a lightning strike on Friday afternoon, according to the United States Forest Service. Sunday night after the fire grew rapidly over 24 hours, the Forest Service wrote the Silver King Fire was “exhibiting extreme fire behavior.” Extreme weather conditions, including a red flag warning for dry, hot and windy conditions hampered firefighting efforts. High winds of 30 miles an hour made the blaze impossible to contain.
As of Thursday at 7:15 a.m., 14,851 acres have been burned in the Silver King Fire, and it is three miles outside of Marysvale. There is still no containment on the fire.
Wednesday winds lessened. Firefighters have been busy improving lines, mopping up, and burning away fuels outside the fire. Fire spreading slowed Tuesday and gave firefighters more opportunities to confine it near Cottonwood drainage. The weather is very hot and dry with continual red flag warnings for the rest of the day.
Homes in the upper Bullion Canyon have lost power and been evacuated. All of the residents are safe at this time and firefighters are working to keep the fire away from these homes.
Some of the main dangers are posed to the power lines and some structures up Bullion Canyon. Residents will not be allowed into the area to retrieve possessions until the fire is contained.
Firefighters and aircraft were working this fire on the northern and southern sides Monday. They have aircraft and Large Air Tankers, helicopters and ground resources which include heavy equipment trying to minimize the risks to the public.
Marysvale’s water tank is above the canyon and safe for the current time. Ranchers have cattle grazing in the area that were not retrievable. It is estimated that the Fautin family lost at least 30 cattle, and others also have cattle that graze in that area.
Marysvale Mayor Bill Davis was very complimentary of the work being done by firefighters and people who are coordinating the equipment that is being provided. Obtaining water to fight this fire has been difficult, but water is being carried from the Mayor’s irrigation pond by helicopter to the fire constantly. Crews have worked through the night and fresh men are replacing them to try to secure containment at this time.
Mayor Davis, who is very sleep deprived, wants to thank the Tri-County Fire Warden and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands for all their work. There is 0% containment at this time and all are working around the clock for complete suppression of this fire.
The Mayor stated, “At times like this you really find out who your friends are.” Marysvale is thankful for all of the firefighters and their backup supporters.
The Marysvale Fire Department is checking in on folks and making sure they are okay, said the town’s fire chief, Jon Christsensen. At the current time there are no evacuation orders in Marysvale Town.
Most of Piute County is not affected by this fire. Marysvale, east of Bullion Canyon where the fire is raging, is located on the northern end of Piute County with a population of roughly 400 people. It is about 14 miles from Junction, the nearest town.
Another wildfire has started south of Bryce Canyon National Park on BLM land near the Paunsaugunt Plateau. This fire, called Deer Springs Fire, is burning rapidly, stressing firefighters in the area as most of them had been deployed on a controlled burn that got out of hand during the month of June, near Beaver, now 45% contained.
The Deer Springs Fire is reported with the cause undetermined at this time. Some structures are also threatened with this fire. It is 20.2 miles north-northeast of Kanab. This fire contains 1,200 acres and is mostly a short grass/chapperr fire. This fire was just reported 21 hours ago.
The Hog Fire which was 12.2 miles northwest of Escalante is reported as contained. It burned 0.5 acres and burned timber understory. No structures were threatened. Many Garfield County Fire Departments were also deployed to this fire, prompting county commissioners to give out shout-out to all first responders county-wide.
Watch The Byway online as we report updates as they come in on the Silver King and Deer Springs fires.
This story will be updated.
– by Elaine Baldwin, The Byway
Feature image courtesy of AJ Martel, The Byway.
Elaine Baldwin – Panguitch
Elaine Baldwin is an Editor/Writer for The Byway. She is the wife of Dale Baldwin, and they have three children, 11 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Elaine enjoys making a difference in her world. She recently retired after teaching Drama for 20 years at Panguitch High School. She loves volunteering and finds her greatest joy serving in the Cedar City Temple each Friday.