Firefighters Close US Highway 6 Due To Bear Fire; Reopenings Possible Throughout Day
Jun 10, 2021, 8:09 AM | Updated: 10:28 am
The Bear Fire in Carbon County, Utah. (Utah Fire Info/Facebook)
(Utah Fire Info/Facebook)
CARBON COUNTY, Utah — Fire crews are continuing to battle the Bear Fire, which has burned over 5,400 acres in Carbon County.
The flames reached U.S. Highway 6 Wednesday evening and both directions were closed between mileposts 230 and 221.
Later that night, firefighters completed a successful firing operation on the southeast corner of the fire.
Drivers were being detoured to U.S. 191 via Emma Park Road, which adds 8 miles and about 12 minutes to a normal drive.
State fire officials reopened U.S. 6 at 9 a.m. with reduced speeds of 45 mph and a pilot car.
Closures will be reinstated throughout the day due to fire activity, and the highway was shut down before 10:30 a.m. due to fire activity.
Please continue to monitor @UDOTTTRAFFIC for the latest. Fire closures may be sporadic throughout the day as winds and firefighters change directions. https://t.co/D08ss9A4tQ
— UDOT Region Four (@UDOTRegionFour) June 10, 2021
Firefighters originally said they did not expect to reopen U.S. 6 at all Thursday.
“We’re going to try to get the highway opened back up,” Type 3 Incident Commander Jason Porter said, “but it’s highly likely the fire will reach U.S. 6 again today just due to the winds that are forecast. Our emphasis today is holding the fire west of U.S. 6 and reinforcing the work we’ve already done to protect the Price River Water Improvement District water treatment plant and other structures near the fire.”
A red flag warning is in effect for the vast majority of the state through Thursday night. KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman said temperatures will drop but windy conditions will persist across the Beehive State.
Windy again pic.twitter.com/ru4o7GG9en
— Grant Weyman (@KSLweyman) June 10, 2021
“High winds like these make it unsafe for firefighting aircraft to fly due to the type of flying they are required to do and could ground the aircraft,” firefighters said. “The winds also have the potential to increase fire activity.”
Five crews, 12 engines and a helicopter have been assigned to the Bear Fire for a total of 159 personnel. The crews are also sharing resources with the nearby Bennion Creek Fire.
