GARFIELD COUNTY, Utah — The France Canyon Fire burning near Bryce Woodlands in southern Utah has doubled in size overnight, growing to 4,704 acres with 0% containment as of Tuesday morning.
While the fire has grown, the U.S. Forest Service says crews have had success in helping to stop its spread towards the Bryce Woodlands area, and a new emphasis for firefighters will be to hold the fire to avoid impacting Bryce Canyon National Park.
"The fire continues to burn in very dry and receptive fuels along with some areas of difficult terrain," the Forest Service said in a release.
Resources are also being deployed to secure the southern edge of the fire to protect those in nearby communities. People who live or are visiting the Bryce Woodlands are now on alert should the fire grow. The Forest Service said no other communities or structures are currently threatened by the wildfire.
"This isn't a fire that's going to be put out immediately or quickly; it will likely be another couple of weeks before we're able to button up the fire," said Sierra Hellstrom with the Color Country Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Wind conditions on Tuesday are expected to increase activity on the southern and eastern portions of the fire, but it is expected to be short-term as winds are forecast to shift again on Wednesday. Conditions will remain hot and dry over the next two days with a 0% chance for precipitation.
Smoke from the France Canyon Fire will likely impact Bryce Canyon National Park
Ten Hotshot crews are fighting the fire, along with support from other resources, including air tankers and helicopters.
Meanwhile, a state fire prevention specialist says recent numbers have them concerned with the number of fire starts they're seeing go way up. The usual amount in a 7-day period which they have firefighters respond to is about 15-20, but between June 8 to the 15, they responded to a total of 57 fire starts. Kayli Guild from the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands says that's only exacerbated by our current conditions.
"Yeah, everything’s crazy dry right now. We had a couple days with red flag warnings for the majority of the state, at least the southern half. There’s that extra fuel load, so extra dry vegetation," she said.
It was just Sunday at a gun range in Utah County when a 15-acre fire was started by someone simply doing target practice.
"Don’t shoot into dry vegetation. It just takes that one little spark to have a catastrophic wildfire," Guild said.
She advises Utahns to visit utahfireinfo.gov for a list of current restrictions, which include knowing where and when you can and can't have campfires, etc. She says we all need to be extra careful this season.
"A hundred percent, it’s everybody’s part – you need to use your fire sense!" she said.
