Deer Creek

Here is a current situation report for the Deer Creek Fire in Utah, focusing on information from the last 72 hours: ## Deer Creek Fire Report - July 29, 2025 ### Fire Start, Size and Growth **Start Date/Time/Location**: The Deer Creek Fire was first reported on the afternoon of July 10, 2025, near La Sal in San Juan County, Utah. **Size and Containment**: As of July 28, 2025, the fire has burned an estimated 17,724 acres and is 77% contained. **Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread**: The fire has been fueled by chaparral, timber (litter and understory) and has exhibited minimal fire activity, characterized by smoldering, creeping, and single-tree torching, primarily concentrated in unburned islands. The fire has spread across the Utah-Colorado border into Montrose County, Colorado. In the last 72 hours, there has been minimal fire growth, with only 74 acres burned on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, a significant decrease from earlier days when over 1,000 acres were burning daily. **Containment Efforts**: Firefighting efforts are ongoing, with crews working to secure containment lines, mop up hot spots, and conduct suppression repair. Resources include a significant number of personnel, helicopters, engines, crews, and bulldozers. Nevada Type 3 Incident Management Team #2 assumed command of the fire on July 26, 2025. ### Emergency Information **Evacuations and Sheltering:** **Evacuation Orders**: Evacuation orders have been in place for areas in San Juan County, Utah, and Montrose County, Colorado. As of July 28, 2025, some zones have been downgraded to "Ready" or "Set" status. Specifically, San Juan County Zones 1, 2, 3, and 5 are "Ready," Zone 4 is "Set," and Zone 6 (Peaceful Valley) remains "Go," though residents of Mountain Shadows, Lower Highway 46, and Hang Dog within Zone 6 are allowed to stay and are at "Set" status. **Evacuation Shelters and Information**: The La Sal Community Center has been available for evacuees. Residents can find more information on evacuation zones and maps through San Juan County and Montrose County emergency alert systems. **Road and Infrastructure Closures:** Multiple road closures remain in effect across the La Sal Mountains region for public safety. County roads within the San Juan County evacuation area are closed to public traffic. Highway 46 in Utah and Highway 90 in Colorado near the Utah-Colorado border are areas to check for current road conditions. Specific closures include Forest Service roads within the Manti-La Sal National Forest. **For more information, visit:** * [InciWeb - Deer Creek Fire Closures]: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/utmlf-deer-creek * [San Juan County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page for updates]: (Search for San Juan County Sheriff's Office on Facebook) * [Montrose County Sheriff's Office for emergency alerts]: https://montrosecountysheriffsoffice.com/montrose-alerts/ ### Current Impact **Impacts:** **Structures Impacted**: The fire has destroyed more than a dozen structures and threatened others. **School and Business Closures**: Specific school or business closures have not been widely reported in the last 72 hours, but local access to recreation areas in the La Sal Mountains has been impacted. **Notable Impacts**: The fire has produced extreme fire behavior, including a rare "firenado" with estimated wind speeds of 122 mph on July 12, 2025, which caused significant damage to at least one home and outbuildings. **Safety Concerns:** **Power Outages**: No specific power outages have been widely reported in the last 72 hours related to this fire. **Water Safety**: No specific water safety concerns have been reported. **Burn Bans**: Given the ongoing fire activity and dry conditions, local fire restrictions and burn bans are likely in effect. Residents should check with local authorities for current regulations. **Air Quality**: Smoke from the Deer Creek Fire, along with smoke from other fires in the region (Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires), has impacted air quality in southern Utah, including Moab, with conditions reported as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups." Visibility has been reduced in communities northeast of the fires. ### Ongoing Outlook **Containment Projections**: Firefighters are working to confirm the fire does not pose a continued threat along its 52-mile perimeter. The estimated full containment date is August 7, 2025. **Weather and Wind Warnings**: A Red Flag Warning was in effect for Saturday, July 26, 2025, due to gusty winds and low relative humidity. Southwest winds are expected to be 8 to 12 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Monsoon moisture is expected to increase the chance of thunderstorms, with erratic and gusty winds possible near any developing storms. The weather forecast for Utah indicates hot and dry conditions continuing, with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Winds are expected to shift from the southwest to west on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, which should help push some smoke out of the state. ### Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate **Cause**: The Deer Creek Fire has been determined to be human-caused. A suspect has been identified, but their name is not being released at this time. **Weather and Climate**: The fire is occurring amidst a severe drought, which is exacerbating fire conditions. Hot, dry, and windy conditions have fueled extreme fire behavior. The presence of dry fuels, with live fuel moisture well below average, contributes to the fire's intensity. The unusual firenado phenomenon highlights the extreme atmospheric conditions present during the fire's active phase. ### **For more information, visit:** * [Utah Fire Info]: https://utahfireinfo.gov/ * [InciWeb]: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ * [National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)]: https://www.nifc.gov/

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