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HEBER — Utah fire officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas in the North and West Fork of the Duchesne River due to "immediate fire danger."
The evacuation order comes as the Yellow Lake wildfire poses "an imminent threat to life and property" in the areas, according to Utah fire officials. Campers and recreationists in the Grandaddy Lake region of the Ashley National Forest have been issued a "ready status," meaning that they should prepare and get ready to evacuate in advance of the fire. A forest closure is in effect for both the portions of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests affected by the fire.
Friday's efforts were a "particularly challenging day," as red flag conditions, high winds, record-breaking temperatures, low humidity and unseasonably dry weather primed areas for fire growth, said Utah Fire officials. The wind conditions ignited several spot fires north of state Route 35 and the pipeline, producing more visible smoke. The winds also led to the fire spreading toward Soapstone Pass and east toward Rhodes Canyon.
Currently, the fire is now burning south and alongside state Route 150 and east of Mill Hollow Reservoir on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The estimated acreage on Saturday afternoon was 7,798 but will likely be updated through infrared mapping, according to Utah Fire officials.
Saturday will continue to see strong winds and shifting directions bringing another difficult day for fire crews, who will work on suppression efforts and minimizing the fire's movement into into the West Fork of the Duchesne drainage, north into Soapstone Basin, west toward Mill Hollow and east towards the North Fork of the Duchesne. With another red flag warning in effect Saturday, forest managers will be taking a "conservative approach to ensure public and firefighter safety amid the unpredictable weather and unseasonably dangerous conditions," said Utah Fire officials.
The fire was determined to be human-caused and remains under investigation.
