Fire Officials Report Progress In Slowing Pole Creek, Bald Mountain Fires

SPANISH FORK, Utah – For the first time since the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires exploded on Thursday, fire bosses are reporting some progress in slowing the two wildfires that have essentially combined into one giant fire, now measured at 86,000 acres.

During a Monday afternoon briefing with the incident commanders, they said air support had been able to work the fire in great numbers Monday. Not only are the large planes dropping retardant and building fire lines, heavy helicopters are dropping water. Crews are also getting some good fire lines established on the ground, according to Todd Pechota, an incident commander.

“Today, we have not had a bad day so far, the winds are slightly less than they have been for the last four or five days,” Pechota said.

No structures, whether homes or cabins are believed to have burned, but firefighters are keeping a vigilant watch to protect three communities: Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills and Covered Bridge. They each remain in the fire’s path. All of the evacuation orders are still in place. No timeline is being given on when people could return to their homes.

Highway 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon and a stretch of Highway 89 near Birdseye are still closed. With the fire jumping Highway 6 Sunday, there is concern for Diamond Fork and even into the right hand of Hobble Creek Canyon.

A community information meeting was planned for Monday night at the high school in Springville, for residents of Hobble Creek and the Mapleton and Springville benches.

RELATED LINK: Incident Information System for Pole Creek and Bald Mountain