WASATCH COUNTY, Utah — Now in its second week, the Yellow Lake Fire continues to grow on Tuesday reaching nearly 20,000 acres.
Officials said there will be a community meeting on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Duchesne Fairgrounds.
"The fire continues to be resistant to control and remains highly active and growing," the U.S. Forest Service said Monday.
Decreased winds have made for more favorable conditions to fight the human-caused wildfire that began last week and tripled in size Saturday. It now according to officials, has burned 19,903 acres with 21% containment.
The current goal of crews on the west side of the fire is to secure the perimeter at Highway 35 and establish a solid western line. On the eastern perimeter, teams are working on protecting structures along the north fork and west fork of the Duchesne River.
Because of safety concerns, crews on the southern perimeter of the wildfire had to disengage.
Mandatory evacuations ordered Saturday remain in place along the Duchesne River.
On Monday, the U.S. Forest Service announced that a section of the Ashley National Forest is now closed to the public until the end of the year, or until they determine that it's safe for the public to be allowed back.
That closure includes: "the region west of Blindstream Road (FSR 135), beginning at the forest boundary and extending to its intersection with FSR 215. The closure follows the ridgeline west, north, and east to Rock Creek Trail (FST 134). Additionally, Rock Creek Trail will be closed for two miles past the junction with Nahguch Pass Trail. Road closures include North Fork Duchesne Road (FSR 144), starting at the forest boundary to its terminus, and Rhoades Canyon Road (FSR 174), also from the forest boundary to its end."
More details on the closure can be found here.
“This is going to be a long-duration fire," said Nikki Champion with the Northern Utah U.S. Forest Service. "It’s complex terrain, it’s complex fuels, and now it’s very large so it’s going to be a longer very restoration fire... More than just a few days.”
Because of the decreased winds, an inversion can now be seen in Duchesne, Summit and Wasatch counties, but the Wasatch Back is expected to see improved air quality as temperatures rise Monday.
"Firefighter and public safety is number one and beyond that is protecting roadways, structures," said Brian Trick, a fire ecologist for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. "For us just to kind of keep up with evacuations — you’re not only a danger but then unfortunately we have to put sheriffs officers and firefighters in danger to try and get people out there."
