A 15-acre fire is burning in Utah’s Dark Canyon Wilderness, about 45 miles west of Monticello.
On Tuesday, smoke was reported in the wilderness area near Brushy Knoll. It has been slow-growing, and as of 4 p.m. Thursday, was estimated at 15 acres, aid Heather McLean, a fire prevention technician with the U.S. Forest Service.
“It is burning in subalpine fir, ponderosa pine and Gambel oak on a northeast facing slope in Peavine Canyon,” the Forest Service said in a statement.
The fire led to the closures of two trails, McLean said.
The steep and rocky terrain call for indirect methods of fighting the fire, officials said.
“Weather conditions are right, and since high-value areas are not threatened, fire behavior allows for using the most appropriate action,” said Moab/Monticello District Ranger Michael Diem.
Forest users are asked to avoid the fire area at this time, and are urged to be careful in lower elevations because drying grass is creating a fire hazard.
ealvero@the-journal.com
