Press Release
HUNTINGTON, Utah, April 24 — Fire crews were able to build a containment line on the northeast side of the Crandall Fire Tuesday. The line held despite gusty winds Tuesday afternoon and evening. The northeast side of the fire leads down Crandall Canyon toward the closed Crandall Canyon Mine. The containment line leads from the point of origin to the snowline. The wildfire has grown to 110 acres, gaining only seven acres Tuesday.
The Crandall Fire is located about 15 miles northwest of Huntington, Utah. It was reported about 2 p.m. Friday, April 20, when crews were immediately dispatched to suppress the fire.
There are two crews working on the fire and a helicopter making water drops. The fire is burning in last year’s dry grass, understory litter and mixed conifer forest. There is no new green vegetation on the Forest to slow the fire, so dry grass is carrying the flames.
It appears the fire was started over a week ago by a warming fire used by recreationists in the area. It is under investigation.
Duty Officer Troy Suwyn, of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, said the goal is to have the fire fully contained by the end of the week.
There are no active workings at the Crandall Canyon Mine and no personnel at the mine. It is owned by Utah American Energy.
Good weather and various hunting seasons are bringing people to the Forest early this year. The Forest Service cautions forest visitors to build fires in a fire ring, or clear away all vegetation down to mineral earth before starting a fire. Before leaving the fire, be sure it is dead out, and never leave a fire unattended. Dry conditions make these warnings even more urgent this spring when there is so much dry vegetation from last year’s growth and new green vegetation has not yet emerged.