Photo Credit: Ron Harrison
BRIAN HEAD- Firefighters are using air tankers to slow the progress of a wildfire threatening the town of Brian Head. Fire Management Officer Mike Melton says they’re also planning to use ground-based crews to protect property in the town overnight.
“Right now were really hitting it hard with the aviation assets on the east flank of the fire between the fire and town,” Melton said.
The entire town has been evacuated and Highway 143 is closed, both coming into town from Parowan and leaving town. Once they leave, evacuees are not being allowed back in.
Resident David Haefner says wildfire danger is something they’ve worried about in the ski resort town.
“It was always a concern and that was the way that we always worried was a fire in the canyon coming up to Brian Head with the north wind,” Haefner said.
Two other significant fires were reported by the Utah Division of Emergency Management on Saturday. The Mack Shaft fire in Uintah County has burned approximately 500 acres. In Piute County, the Choke Cherry Fire has burned approximately 350 acres in Forest Service land.
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