Riggs Fire, Lonely Fire still growing, firefighters work to secure Rainbow Point
By Mike Johnson
Both the Lonely Fire and the Riggs Fire saw increased growth Sept. 14 due to drier and windy conditions. The Lonely Fire has increased to approximately 684 acres, and the Riggs Fire is 766 acres. These two fires are burning on lands administered by the Dixie National Forest, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Kanab Field Office BLM. Firefighters worked again in the Willis Creek area, continuing with structure protection assessments. Today, they will begin moving some of the sprinkler systems from Rainbow Point down to the Willis Creek area.
On Sept. 13, hotshot crews conducted a burnout operation along the Bristlecone Loop Trail. On Sept. 14, they worked on felling hazardous trees along the trail. In addition, they mopped up the fire along the trail, putting out any hotspots that are within 50–75 feet of the trail. As firefighters work to secure the western flank of the fire at the Rainbow Point parking area, the sprinklers, portable water tanks, and structure protection put in place will be removed in an effort to get the area prepared to welcome visitors when it is safe to do so.
There are three trail closures currently in place. Within the Dixie National Forest, the Grandview Trail (066) from the Willis Creek junction to Lower Podunk is closed. In Bryce Canyon National Park, the Riggs Spring Loop Trail is closed, including the connector trail from Riggs Springs to the Grandview Trail. The Under-the-Rim Trail is also closed from Agua Canyon to Rainbow Point. These trails are temporarily closed for the safety and welfare of the public.
Bryce Canyon National Park remains open to visitors. Due to firefighting operations occurring in the Rainbow Point area, the main park road in Bryce Canyon National Park is closed at Farview Point overlook, from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. During the daytime hours, the road will be open an additional 2 miles to Natural Bridge Overlook. All visitor facilities, services, and businesses in surrounding communities are not impacted by the fire and remain open.
For more information on fires in Utah, visit utahfireinfo.gov.
Articles related to “Riggs Fire, Lonely Fire still growing, firefighters work to secure Rainbow Point”
Update on Riggs Fire, Lonely Fire: Over one thousand acres burning
Riggs fire causes closures in Bryce Canyon and Dixie National Forest
NPS conducts prescribed burning in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
