Firefighters make progress as Yellow Lake Fire grows to over 16,000 acres, evacuation orders remain in place

Smoke from the Yellow Lake Fire settles into the low lying areas of Park City on Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. Photo: Vanessa Conabee

FRANCIS, Utah – Firefighters battling the blaze in Duchesne, Summit, and Wasatch counties made some progress on containment despite the fire’s continued resistance and significant activity. The fire is now 10% contained and has grown to 16,053 acres. Crews benefitted from a slight break in weather conditions as winds decreased on Monday morning, creating a more favorable environment for ground operations.

The decreased winds have led to an inversion, causing smoke to settle into the valleys, affecting air quality in the surrounding areas. While Duchesne will likely remain smoky throughout the day due to light winds from the northwest, the Wasatch Back is expected to see improving air conditions as temperatures rise.

On Monday morning, the AQI in Park City was listed at 137 on weather apps, but levels improved to 86 by the afternoon, a moderate level.

Evacuation orders remain in effect: The North and West Forks of the Duchesne River are under a mandatory evacuation order, with all residents, hunters, and recreationists required to leave the area immediately. A “READY” order is in place for the Granddaddy Lakes area on Ashley National Forest and Hanna, urging residents to be prepared for evacuation if the situation escalates.

Captain John Crowley of the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office said the area where evacuations are being ordered mostly consists of family vacation homes. Crowley said only two full-time residents have been forced from the area so far.

“The concern with evacuations isn’t so much the fire getting to the people, it’s the smoke and the breathing and keeping people out of the area so the firefighters can do their job,” Crowley said.

As for the area of Duchesne county that has been placed on Level 2, which means to prepare for evacuation, Crowley said it all depends on the fire conditions.

“If they start getting high winds and the fire jumps (route) 35 and gets into that area up in there, yes it will be evacuated. And most of it, again, is going to because of getting fire personnel to where they need to be to fight fire and protect structures, and also getting the general public out of way,” Crowley said.

Fire operations update: Fire operations have been focused on several key areas. Crews on the western perimeter are conducting firing operations along Mill Hollow Road, aiming to secure the fireline to Highway 35 and move further into the fire’s interior. North of the fire, firefighters are working around the Soapstone area, establishing firelines and using firing strategies where possible.

On the eastern flank, the fire remains high along a ridge, with teams focusing on structure protection efforts along the North and West Forks of the Duchesne River. Air resources are also supporting these crews with targeted drops of fire retardant to limit the spread of lighter fuels. Additionally, the use of dozers is being considered to reinforce existing firebreaks.

The southern edge of the fire presented significant safety concerns, forcing crews to pull back. Firefighters are now scouting for areas to establish indirect lines where they can safely access the fire. On the southwest corner, near Heart Lake, successful firing operations were conducted to reduce unburned fuel.

Authorities are urging residents to heed evacuation orders for their own safety and the safety of emergency responders.

Prior Updates and Coverage on the Yellow Lake Fire