Riggs Fire and Lonely Fire approaching 2,000 acres in size
While the Riggs Fire and the Lonely Fire had minimal growth Sept. 18, the reported acres are currently 1,077 for the Riggs Fire and 788 acres for the Lonely Fire. Smoke was visible from the fires early in the morning and continued throughout the day. Most of the smoke visible to the surrounding areas was produced by interior pockets of unburned fuel being consumed. These two fires are burning on lands administered by the Dixie National Forest, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Kanab Field Office BLM.
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. On Sept. 22 the park anticipates opening the road to Rainbow Point from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All visitor facilities, services, and businesses in surrounding communities are not impacted by the fire and remain open.
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 will be 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.
Firefighters continue monitoring fire activity and work to improve protection measures in both Willis Creek and at Rainbow Point. With assistance from Kane County, a dozer was used to repair and improve the Lower Podunk road on the U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands for fire apparatus travel in the Lower Podunk area.
Today, the county dozer will continue improving roads and access while firefighters scout the area of Lower Podunk for natural and cultural resources, structures and residences, other infrastructure, and possible contingency holding lines in the event that fire were to spread that far south. Actions at Rainbow Point overlook today will focus on repair efforts on the trails in the fire area as well as continuing to improve protection measures. Park staff will instal barrier fencing and set out traffic cones today in the Rainbow Point parking lot in preparation of the road opening on Saturday.
For more information on fires in Utah visit utahfireinfo.gov.
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