SOUTHERN UTAH — Firefighters in southern Utah have increased containment of a wildfire caused by lightning in the Pine Valley Wilderness Area to 40 percent Saturday, and so far 849 acres have been burned.
A press release from the Pine Valley Ranger District States the Oak Grove Fire is 40 percent contained, and a second lightning caused fire in the vicinity, the Brown Trail Fire, is being mopped up by fire crews.
The Brown Trail Fire was declared Friday night, and while smoke may still be visible from Pine Valley as internal vegetation burns out, the fire is largely under control Saturday.
Heavy air tankers are continuing to make retardant drops on the Oak Grove Fire to help control the fire, which in some areas is burning in hard to access terrain. Crews on the ground are making progress on constructing a fire control line, the press release stated.
Forest Roads #031, #902 and #032 and the Oak Grove Campground remain closed, as do several trails in the vicinity.
Officials expressed concern earlier in the week that the fire could potentially send ash into water reserves, click here for details.
