With high winds and red flag conditions forecast Friday afternoon, firing operations Thursday on the Yellow Lake Fire caused an increase of smoke as firefighters expected, burning fuel between the indirect lines and the current fire perimeter.Officials called the operation highly successful, with only one small spot fire still inside the planned perimeter. They said these operations will help speed up containment, as well as the ability to open Highway 35 once fire activity decreased.They said the backfiring allowed flames to burn the understory and in a mosaic pattern, leaving patches of green fuel between the burned areas. This decreases tree mortality.The fire Friday morning was 18% contained, and mapped at 3,112 acres. With the increased acreage, the containment percentage has decreased slightly. A red flag warning is in effect, and the area continues to see unseasonably high warm and dry conditions.The fire had been slowly backing down Highway 35, and firefighters on Thursday burned out unburned fueld between the road and the fire perimeter. This decreases the potential for spotting and reduces the time a highway closure is needed, officials said. The northwest side also completed firing operations from the dozer line toward the fire edge while winds were favorable. Highway 35 remains closed for at least 24-48 more hours, until fire activity decreases and the road can be cleared of debris.Most of the containment has been accomplished on the southern perimeter. Where safe to do so, crews are working further into the burned area to extinguish any hot spots. The southwest corner has many snags and hazardous trees. Areas where conditions are too dangerous to put crews in, fire managers are discussing future firing operations aligned with favorable weather. This will minimize the risk to firefighters.The YMCA camp and ranger station remain safe, with structure protection complete and sprinklers and hose-lay in place for added defense, officials said. The previous logging and vegetation thinning done in this area made the structures much more defensible, they said.A forest closure went into effect Thursday for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests. While crews are hoping to confine the fire within the current built indirect line, the forest closure is intended for potential fire activity if it crosses the current indirect line. With the heavy timber, high winds, and dry conditions, there is potential for the fire to spot large distances like has already occurred on this fire. Forest managers said they want to make sure they take a conservative approach with the predicted weather, red flag warning, and unseasonably dangerous conditions to assure public and firefighter safety.The fire has been determined to be human caused, but it is still under investigation. More information will be released once the final investigation report is completed. There are no reportable accidents or injuries, and still no structures or recreational vehicles lost.The Yellow Lake Fire is located east of Mill Hollow Reservoir on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with 423 personnel assigned to the incident.ThursdayThe Yellow Lake Fire has grown slightly, to 2,560 acres of timber and standing dead and down timber, east and south of Mill Hollow Reservoir, and was 6% contained early Thursday.The Forest Service said the fire is still active, and seeing slow growth around much of the perimeter. Crews made good progress on the spot fire near Heart Lake and the southwest edge, they said. The fire is mostly holding along the northeast side at the gas pipeline.Yellow Lake Fire perimeter as of Thursday, Oct. 3. Credit: U.S. Forest ServiceHighway 35 remains closed, due to continued fire activity near the road. This continues to be evaluated daily, based on current fire behavior.The Forest Service is taking all available actions to fully suppress the fire, using firefighting resources where safe and effective, officials said. The area received a light amount of precipitation Sunday night, but the fire remained active overnight in heavy timber. Additional resources arrived Sunday. Fire managers expect additional resources to continue to arrive. There will be 24-hour operations on scene until further notice.https://www.facebook.com/UtahWildfire/videos/397991903353316Credit: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestThe fire has been mapped at 2,474 acres and 0% was contained as of Tuesday morning. The fire remained active throughout Monday, though cooler temperatures overnight saw moderated fire activity, fire officials said. It continues to burn in heavy timber, both standing and dead-and-downed. Lack of moisture in the area this summer, as well as unseasonably late heat waves this fall, have caused the fuels to be highly receptive to fire, making suppression efforts dangerous and difficult.Fire managers are inserting ground crews where access is available and safe. The fire was active on the north side, and firefighters utilized air support and fire retardant to slow the progression. However, with the current heat and dry fuels, the fire is slowly burning through the retardant lines.Crews are doing structure protection at the YMCA camp and near the gas pipeline, using bulldozer line and increasing the fuel break previously created to assist in holding the fire. Other values, including structures and communities not immediately affected by the fire, are being assessed proactively in case of further growth from the fire.This remains a full suppression fire, but with the current conditions it will likely be a longer duration fire due to the terrain, topography, receptive fuels, and predicted weather.Fire managers are working with their cooperators and respective county and local agencies to coordinate impact on grazing allotments, logging, and other permittee concerns. They are also working with law enforcement to escort recreationists to retrieve their belongings in the campgrounds and in the closure area.Highway 35 remains closed, for both public and firefighter safety. This closure will remain for at least 24-72 hours, until fire activity decreases and the road can be cleared of debris.The fire has been determined to be human caused, but it is still under investigation. More information will be released once the final investigation report has been finalized.The Yellow Lake Fire is located east of Mill Hollow Reservoir on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Currently, there are 230 personnel assigned to the fire, including ground crews, aircraft, engines, water tenders, and bulldozers.The fire is actively burning in timber and standing dead and down trees. It has crossed onto the east side of Highway 35, west of Potts Hollow. Fire behavior is active in the understory, with torching of individual trees, as well as group torching. Currently, there are 80 personnel assigned to the fire, including ground crews, aircraft, engines, and bulldozers. Additional resources are being ordered and should be on scene tonight.Evacuations were carried out in the following parts of Wasatch County: Duchesne Ridge, Mill Hollow, Wolf Creek and Soapstone Pass.On Saturday around 3:30 p.m., Wasatch County 911 Center received a report of a wildfire burning on the county’s east side. Fire suppression crews responded. Within a few hours, campers in the area closest to the fire evacuated. The fire was at an estimated 30 acres in size.Sunday morning, the fire had grown to an estimated 130 acres. The weather forecast put afternoon winds as high as 50-60 mph, and by evening the estimate grew to 150 acres and then 1,500 acres.Aircraft with fire suppression capabilities are on scene. Additional aircraft have been ordered, according to Wasatch County Sheriff.S.R. 35 at the Noblett’s Trailhead (milepost 12) and Wolf Creek Pass (milepost 19.5) are closed, except for emergency response vehicles. The Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue are informing individuals within the closure area that they must evacuate. Wasatch County deputies and Utah Highway Patrol troopers are assisting with road closures. The impacted area is mostly public and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Wasatch County Public Works, Fire District, Utah Forestry and State Lands are assisting. Credit: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestThe post Backfiring goes well on Yellow Lake Fire, now 3,112 acres and 18% contained appeared first on Park Record.