CACHE COUNTY — The Cache County blaze known as the Millville Fire is now 65 percent contained, fire officials said Monday.
The wildfire that started Aug. 11 by a lightning strike, has charred approximately 2,864 acres, Cache County officials said.
The evacuation area for the blaze begins at the mouth of Blacksmiths Fork canyon, which extends east to the intersection with the Left Hand Fork road according to a press release from Cache County.
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.
The subdivisions at the moth of canyon are not included in the evacuations, the release stated.
The Blacksmiths Fork Canyon road, Highway 101, remains closed to all nonessential traffic beginning at the Cache National Forest entrance sign and extends east to the intersection with the Left Hand Fork road. The Left Hand Fork road is also closed to nonessential traffic. Millville Canyon remains closed, the release stated.
Trails in the Left Hand Fork, Richards Hollow, Herd Hollow and Gray Cliff springs areas are closed.
Land managers expect there will be smokes visible from the interior of the fire for the next several weeks, however the smoke will be well within the fire’s perimeter and will not pose a risk of spread. Fire personnel will monitor the fire area after the fire is considered fully contained.
Two helicopters dropped retardant in Monday morning and switched to water in the afternoon.
Nearly 140 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 5 hand crews, 3 engines, and 2 helicopters.
Very low humidity, high temperatures, terrain driven winds, along with very dry fuels continues. The potential for explosive fire behavior still exists, the release states.
Fire managers and agency officials periodically monitor the situation.
