The Peavine Canyon Fire and new Poison Canyon Fire continue to grow

A new fire joined the Peavine Canyon Fire burning west of Monticello and Blanding in the Dark Canyon Wilderness last week.
The lightning-sparked Poison Canyon Fire has grown to almost 200 acres since it was discovered on July 26.
According to U.S. Forest Service officials in the Manti-La Sal district, this new fire is burning in needles under Ponderosa pines in an area previously planned for a prescribed burn.
The Peavine Canyon Fire has grown to 1,250 acres, about five times its size reported last week. Drier, warmer conditions are expected to increase fire activity on both fires, the Forest Service said.
Although the fires are growing, the Forest Service says their “low to moderate behavior…is beneficial in reaching management goals.”
They report that heavy snowfall last winter has contributed to fuels having much more moisture content than normal years, which lowers fire intensity.
The fire is consuming some of the fuels on the ground, returning nutrients to the soil, and reducing the chance of a catastrophic fire in the future. Both fires will benefit the area for the next 10-15 years, according to a Forest Service spokesperson.
Currently, 131 people are assigned to both fires – 89 to the Peavine Canyon Fire and 42 to the Poison Canyon Fire. The Peavine Canyon Fire is located 22 miles west of Blanding and the Poison Canyon fire is located approximately 23 miles west of Monticello.
Closures for the Peavine Canyon Fire include Forest Road 50089 Peavine Corridor, now closed at the trailhead junction with Forest Road 50088 South Elk Ridge.
Forest Road 50108 Dry Mesa Road is closed at the junction with the 50340 including all spur roads to the north.
Prior closures include Forest Trail 023 Brushy Knoll and Forest Trail 157 Peavine Canyon.
Maps and more information is available on the Manti-La Sal National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/mantilasal/.

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