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Saddle fire in Washington County grows to 1,500 acres, 8 percent contained

Posted at 10:33 AM, Jun 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-29 15:16:12-04

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah – The Saddle fire near Pine Valley has increased 70 acres to 1,540 and is 8-percent contained.

Crews continue to use ground and aerial ignition operations as well as direct and indirect line construction.

These operations are removing fuels from the path of the fire in order to prevent the fire from spreading east toward the Pine Valley Recreation Area and south toward the Dammeron Valley area, while still providing protection to the Pine Valley community.

Click here for the latest updates on the Saddle fire in Washington County

Saddle fire in Lloyd Canyon

Saddle fire in Lloyd Canyon

The attack strategy in Forsyth Canyon includes indirect firing operations using control lines in the canyon, natural barriers on the main ridge and utilizing a 2005 fire scar to the south.

There are 731 personnel, along with engines, heavy equipment and aircraft helping to suppress the fire. Besides direct attack, day crews improved indirect lines while night crews conducted firing operations, area patrols and monitored the fire area to pick up any spot fires.

The fire remains most active in the Lloyd and Forsyth canyons.

Voluntary evacuations remain in place for Pine Valley and the road into Pine Valley is only open to property owners.

The Pine Valley Recreation Area in the Dixie National Forest remains under an indefinite area closure to all uses.

The Saddle Fire began June 13 with a lighting strike on Saddle Mountain in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness of the Dixie National Forest.

The fire started approximately 2.5 miles south west of Pine Valley, Utah.