Media Release

For Immediate Release

Cache County, Utah - August 15, 2013
7pm Update -- Millville Fire

Firefighters had a very good day today significantly slowing the spread of the fire.  The fire is approximately 2800 acres and is now 30% contained.

While the windy, low humidity, and high temperatures existed throughout the day, the success was due to the availability and use of aviation resources.  4 air tankers and 3 heavy helicopters worked the fire for most of the day which allowed ground crews to catch up.  Thursday, fire crews worked securing the fire line along the ridge between Millville Canyon and Blacksmiths Fork Canyon as well as the “slop-overs” to the north that occurred yesterday .  In addition crews continued working the Blacksmiths Fork road to insure the fire remained north of the road.
  
A strike team of five fire engines arrived today and will be on line beginning tonight.  While fire managers are pinching the fire towards the intersection of the Blacksmith Fork road and the Left Hand Fork road they plan to find a location and stop the advance well before that point.  Burnout operations will occur when conditions are favorable, largely used to stop the fire’s downslope progression toward the Blacksmith Fork road.   A Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Command Team continues managing the incident. 170 personnel are working on the fire, including five hand crews, five engines, 4 helicopters, and 4 air tankers. 

The mandatory evacuations and road closures will continue until conditions change. The Red Flag alert that has been effect for the past 2 days is now forecasted to continue through most of Friday.  These same conditions contributed to the fire spread which occurred Wednesday which prompted the evacuations. 

The evacuation area begins at the mouth of Blacksmiths Fork canyon.  The area does not include any of the subdivisions at the mouth of the canyon.  The highway road block is set up at the intersection of the Hollow road.  The evacuation area extends east to the intersection with the Left Hand Fork road (approximately 6 miles).  The mandatory evacuation also includes the Left Hand Fork Canyon area beginning at the Left Hand Fork road intersection with Blacksmith Fork road and extends to the Gray Cliff springs area (approximately 7 miles).  The Blacksmiths Fork Canyon road is closed to all nonessential traffic from the intersection with the Hollow road to the Left Hand Fork road.  The Left Hand Fork road is also closed to nonessential traffic.  Millville Canyon remains closed. 

Trails in the Left Hand Fork, Richards Hollow, Herd Hollow, and Gray Cliff springs areas are closed.
A public meeting is scheduled tonight at the Heritage Elementary School gymnasium in Nibley (925 W. 3200 S.) beginning at 8pm.  Fire managers would like to provide an update on the status of the fire and discuss the evacuations that are currently in effect. 

The Millville Fire started on Sunday morning, August 11, 2013 by lightning.

Fire Information:

Larry Lucas  Fred Noack
801 573-6622  801 690-4081

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