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On Saturday morning, according to Suzie Tenhagen, US Forest Service Information Officer, no homes were burned by the Pole Creek or Bald Mountain fires.
On Saturday morning, the US Forest Service reported that the Pole Creek fire reached 68,347 acres and, according to Utah fire information, the Mount Bald fire is 17,760 acres. This brings the total area of both fires to over 86,000 acres.
Although the fire continues to grow, Tenhagen said that there were areas on several ridges where the fire has not progressed significantly throughout the night.
On Friday, crews were able to reduce their backlog in key areas and teams focused on protecting structures. Helicopters will be available Saturday to support the teams.
According to the US Forest Service, additional resources have been commissioned, including crews, engines, bulldozers and air assets.
The rapid growth of the massive fire has been caused largely by warm winds, which are expected to continue until Saturday, said Tenhagen, creating the possibility that the fire continues to grow. Winds can also result in the grounding of firefighting planes.
The management team of Great Basin Incident I has taken over the management of the Pole Creek Fire and is headquartered in Spanish Fork. A second incident management team I is in transition Saturday to take charge of the bald mountain fire.
The two teams will work together, said Tenhagen. Due to the impossibility of doing the infrared flights, it is still not clear whether the two fires have merged, but the assumption is that they have or will be coming soon.
The Utah County Forestry Bureau announced that it was planning forest services closures in the Diamond Fork area, including the Diamond Fork Road that passes north of Wanrhodes, Red Ledges, said US Forest Service. Hot pots and Springville Crossing, although these closures have not yet been put in place.
Utah County officials are expected to submit a crisis statement Saturday morning, according to UCSO officials.
There will also be a community meeting on Saturday at 5:00 pm, organized by the Great Basin Incident Management Team. The meeting will be held at the Salem Hills High School auditorium and the incident management team will provide the latest information on both fires.
Quality of the air
Smoke levels cause poor air quality throughout the Wasatch front area on Saturday, with particularly poor air in southern Utah.
According to the Utah Air Quality Department, residents can expect the highest levels of smoke in the air to spread in the morning and to disappear in the aftermath. midday.
"Smoke from fires will result in high concentrations in some areas," Utah wrote in a social media article. "If the smoke gets thick, people with heart or lung disease should reduce their efforts and activities outside."
According to Utah DEQ, Utah County was ranked Saturday in the "unhealthy" range for air quality.
Evacuation status
All evacuations and pre-evacuations have the same status as Friday.
Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills and the covered bridge area in Spanish Fork Canyon are still under mandatory evacuation.
Parts of Spanish Fork, Payson and Salem are subject to pre-eviction notices.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon, of the Utah County Sheriff's Office, said the evacuations would be in place at least until the end of Saturday.
"I know the weather forecast is for increasing winds throughout the day," said Cannon. "The wind should choke tonight, there are still a lot of unknowns, it's still very close to Elk Ridge and Woodland Hills."
Cannon said UCSO was working with evacuees who have to return home for important items such as drugs.
closures
US Highway 89 remains closed from the junction of the US Highway with Utah-Sanpete County Line 6. The United States was closed Thursday night but was reopened on Friday morning.
The Payson and Santaquin canyons are both closed and the Nebo Loop Road in Nephi Canyon is closed.
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