PHOTOS: Erratic fire behavior caused the Deer Creek Fire in San Juan County to expand by several hundred acres by Sunday morning. The wildfire, first reported around 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, was mapped at 8,925 acres with 0% containment as of July 13. By Sunday, an additional 110 firefighting personnel had been deployed to the scene. The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team said strong winds through the Hangdog Creek area pushed the blaze another 400 acres to the north.
Fire activity on the southern perimeter was less active, officials said. Low relative humidity and temperatures in the 80s were forecast for Sunday, increasing the risk of further fire spread. Fire crews are working along Highway 46 and northward on the eastern side of the fire. Drivers are urged to use headlights and exercise caution when traveling through the area, especially in the early morning and evening hours. A damage assessment is underway.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Evacuations remain in effect from the Old La Sal area to Upper Two Mile Road, extending to the Utah-Colorado state line, as well as the area north to Mount Manns off Upper Two Mile Road. A closure is also in place for the Manti-La Sal National Forest. A community meeting will be held at the La Sal Community Center on Highway 46 at 7 p.m. on July 13, where authorities will answer questions and provide information on the current state of the fire.
