Mudslides, debris flow expected near Pole Creek, Bald Mountain burn areas
With two storms sweeping toward Utah County during the weekend, officials warn there may be mudslides and debris flow near areas impacted by recent fires at the start of next week.
Residents affected by the summer fires, including the Coal Hollow Fire, the Pole Creek Fire and the Bald Mountain Fire, should be aware of the coming storms, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
The National Weather Service predicts heavy rain and flooding on Monday and Tuesday.
“We want residents to be aware of these approaching storms and take appropriate precautions and make preparations for your homes,” a press release stated.
From the West Coast, Hurricane Rosa will send winds and rain late Sunday and Monday, officials reported.
Another California storm system may create a high chance of rain soon after.
“We cannot predict with certainty what areas would be impacted in an emergency, but we want everyone to be prepared to respond should the need arise,” the release stated.
The press release recommended residents check http://beready.utah.gov to research how to prepare and respond to emergencies.
Both the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires remained unchanged on Friday as the California Incident Management Team took on management for the fires.
The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team and the Great Basin Type 1 Team transitioned off the fires on Thursday.
The Pole Creek Fire is at 102,104 acres with a 68 percent containment.
Crews continue to make progress on containment lines, although Saturday is a red flag warning day in the fire area.
The Bald Mountain Fire is at 18,608 acres with 76 percent containment. High winds increased fire behavior, but firefighters held the perimeter and accessed options for the fire line in the Covered Bridge area.
Despite the increases in containment, the Covered Bridge, Right Fork Hobble Creek and Diamond Fork areas remain under evacuations notices.