For those of you planning ATVing trips to the Paiute Trail in central UT over the next few weeks, you may want to take the time to check conditions before going. As of today the national forest is closed, and a wild fire is burning, or has burned 140,000 acres in the heart of the most scenic portion of the Paiute Trail. The town of Cove Fort is currently evacuated, and a one hundred mile stretch of I-15 is closed, as is I-70 west of Richfield to I-15. The fire is located between the towns of Fillmore and Richfield. This is the largest fire on record in the state of UT. What a trajedy; the fire was started by lightning strikes. Best wishes to the fire crews working to put this fire out, I hope they all stay safe.

DV.

 

Had a good part of my favorite trail system in the local mountains burned out in fires...doesn't look very pretty anymore!

 

In the last two days this fire has grown from 140,000 acres to 300,000 acres, and is 0% contained at this point. There have been two fatalities from an auto accident caused by poor visibility from fire smoke on the interstate. This scenic ATV trail system will never be the same again, at least not in our lifetime. This is sad.

DV

 

Reservations have been in place for a long time and we have a large group scheduled to come out to ride the Pauite in August. We of course are watching these developments closely. What a trajedy indeed, that is such a beautiful part of this country...

 

More information can be found here and here...