Fire near Bryce Canyon quickly reaches 11,000 acres in size
Jul 9, 2024, 6:22 AM | Updated: 8:42 am
Smoke from the Deer Springs Fire near Bryce Canyon is pictured on Monday. Federal Land managers say the fire has quickly burned 11,000 acres, making it the state's largest fire of the year so far. (Bureau of Land Management)
(Bureau of Land Management)
KANAB — A wildfire burning south of Bryce Canyon National Park has quickly blossomed to about 11,000 acres in size amid hot and dry conditions, making it the largest fire in the state this year.
The Deer Springs Fire in Kane County grew by about another 2,000 acres in size Monday afternoon, Bureau of Land Management officials wrote in an update Monday evening. About 120 people are now assigned to battle the fire, using seven engines, multiple aircraft and a water tender truck.
Bureau officials said the crews used northeast-blowing winds to attack the north end of the fire, which is closer to Deer Springs Ranch, as the fire helped push the fire south of Skutumpah Road.
“The goal remains to keep the fire to the smallest acres/smallest footprint as possible and utilize standard firefighting techniques using existing roads, natural barriers and equipment to safely suppress the fire,” the agency wrote.
It’s unclear how the fire started other than it appears to be human-caused. It was first reported on Sunday about 13 miles south of Bryce National Park’s Yovimpa Point and remains 0% contained.
There are no evacuations in place, but Pasture Road and the Nephi Pasture and Crocodile parking lots are closed to the public amid firefighting operations.
