The weekend began to see successful containment operations of the Dollar Ridge Fire as Mother Nature gave a hand to the hard working firefighters. Utah Fire Info reports that as of Sunday, July 8th, the fire had reached 49,789 acres, was 30 percent contained, and had 784 fire personnel on the job. The weather helped to moderate the fire activity
starting Saturday
with cloud cover, higher humidity, and light rain showers. Crews have continued to reduce fuels, increase the fire line, and continue air operations. Highway 40 was opened to traffic on Friday under strict rules. “While fire personnel continue to work successfully in the area south of Highway 40, a 35 mile per hour speed limit has been enacted to ensure the safety of the crews working in and around the Dollar Ridge Fire,” share Utah Fire Info. “To civilians driving through the burned zone, we ask that individuals respect the speed limit and continue to drive through the area without stopping.” The Dollar Ridge Fire was reported in Wasatch County on the afternoon of July 1st and quickly spread into Duchesne County. Evacuations were ordered as the fire spread and it is reported that as many or more than 90 residents have been lost. It is believed to be human caused and remains under investigation. Fire officials estimate that the Dollar Ridge Fire will be contained by
Friday, July 20th.
A community meeting concerning the Dollar Ridge Fire is being held tonight, July 9th, at the Duchesne High School Auditorium
at 7:00pm
. Representatives from the Great Basin Incident Management Team #2 will present and answer questions along with the U.S. Forest Service, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Duchesne County. The meeting will not give updates on structures in the fire area but structure assessments are currently underway and information will be shared with homeowners in the coming days. For the most current information on the Dollar Ridge Fire, follow the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office and Utah Fire Info Facebook pages.
Photo Credit: Utah Fire Info Facebook page
