Central Utah Wildfire Grows Fast With No Containment Numbers Yet
The Widemouth 2 Fire continues to burn aggressively in central Utah, with firefighters battling extreme conditions as the blaze grows well beyond its last official mapping. As of Monday morning, the fire was listed at 36,438 acres with zero percent containment, although fire managers say the acreage is significantly larger because no overnight infrared flight was conducted to produce an updated map.
Despite hot, dry weather, strong winds and minimal overnight humidity recovery, firefighters made important progress Sunday in slowing the fire's advance toward Fillmore. Fire officials credited the hard work of crews for preventing the loss of any structures and avoiding major injuries, even as firefighters contended with erratic fire behavior throughout the day and night.
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Near Kanosh, crews continue direct suppression efforts along the fire's edge while extinguishing pockets of interior heat and watching for spot fires. Conditions have also improved near Meadow, where fire activity has decreased and firefighters are catching areas of concern before they can spread. Dozers and hand crews remain hard at work reinforcing fire lines in Dry Wash, where containment lines have so far held against the fire's southeast push.
The fire has now crossed into the Chalk Creek area and continues moving east, although not as rapidly as its earlier northward advance. Fire managers are identifying locations where firefighters can safely engage the fire to help keep it away from Interstate 70 and nearby communities. Officials emphasized that neither Interstate 70 nor Interstate 15 is currently threatened, but motorists should remain alert for reduced visibility from smoke and increased emergency traffic.
Community Meeting Scheduled For Tonight At Millard High School
A community meeting for residents affected by the fire is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Millard High School Auditorium in Fillmore. Fire officials hope to livestream the meeting through the Fishlake National Forest Facebook page, although it could be canceled if evacuation levels increase.
Residents are encouraged to monitor the Millard County Sheriff's Office for current evacuation information. Officials reminded the public that anyone placed under a "GO" evacuation order will receive emergency phone alerts and door-to-door notifications. The lightning-caused fire, which started July 27 about six miles south of Kanosh on the Fillmore Ranger District of Fishlake National Forest, remains under a forest closure as suppression efforts continue.
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Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells
