NEWS RELEASE
Seeley Fire Update - July 17, 2012 - 10:30 a.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDATE: Tuesday, July 17 - 10:30 a.m. Seeley Fire Information: 435-636-3539Website: www.inciweb.org/incident/2953Email: rdfillmore@fs.fed.usTwitter: twitter.com/ML NF Seeley Fire... more
Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The Seeley Fire began on the Manti-LaSal National Forest with a lightning strike on June 26 and was reported at about 6 a.m. that day.
The fire gained intensity as it entered areas containing large components of decadent standing beetle-killed timber, dead and down fuels. Area residents and visitors saw large columns of smoke for several days. The fire was not contained until July 18. It had burned 48,050 acres.
The area of the fire is characterized by extremely steep slopes, and highly sought after recreation areas. In the past the area has provided opportunities for scenic viewing, camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting. The area supports several local industries including coal mines, power production, livestock production, and gas wells and distribution pipelines. State Route 31 through Huntington Canyon is the only paved commuter route across the Wasatch Plateau from east to west, and is a National Scenic Byway. In the aftermath of the Seeley Fire the area has been a hazardous landscape with flash floods, debris flows, road damage, fish kills, hazard trees, damage to recreation sites, rolling logs and boulders, stump holes and unstable soils.
High ridges of the burned area have suffered fewer impacts of the fire and may be opened incrementally, as it is safe to do so. Currently, the area of the fire remains closed.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Tuesday June 26th, 2012 approx. 05:30 AM |
| Location | 15 miles NW of Huntington, UT |
| Incident Commander | Williams/huntsman(t)-type |
Current Situation
| Size | 48,050 acres |
|---|---|
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Wednesday July 18th, 2012 approx. 08:00 PM |
| Fuels Involved | 10 Timber (litter and understory), Timber, downed and dead fuels, beetle-killed timber, some sage and Pinon/Juniper. |
| Fire Behavior | Creeping and smoldering in the heavy fuels. |
| Significant Events | The fire remains uncontrolled, but monitored. There continues to be hotspots in the interior. A rainstorm on Aug. 1, dropped 1.25 inches of rain on the fire scar, resulting in massive debris flows. State Route 31 in Huntington Canyon was closed for over a week as crews cleared boulders and other debris, repaired damages to the road and a bridge. Motorists were trapped between debris flows from side canyons and were helped to safety by Utah Department of Transportation workers. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Continue to warn travelers through Huntington Canyon to become weather aware, watch for thunderclouds and stay out of the area if there is potential for rain on the fire scar. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | None |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
