Paunsaugunt Fire

Bigwiffy · Jul 8, 2024

Those of you with a tag this year may want to keep an eye on the fire that started. It could burn up a lot of that lower country south of Skutem. On the bright side it might be good in a few years.

Bigwiffy · Jul 8, 2024

The Deer Springs Fire sparks south of Bryce Canyon National Park

A new wildfire that is about 1,500 to 2,00 acres has started south of Bryce Canyon National Park on Sunday.

ksltv.com

fin little · Jul 8, 2024

Updated to 9 thousand acres

Bigwiffy · Jul 8, 2024

fin little said:
Updated to 9 thousand acres

elkassassin · Jul 8, 2024

Seriously BIG Wiff:

Did You Start It?

elkassassin · Jul 8, 2024

You Know The Right Thing Is To Let It Burn,Right?

Bigwiffy · Jul 8, 2024

elkassassin said:
Seriously BIG Wiff:

Did You Start It?

Yes, after eating at Golden Corral I lit a tremendous blue dart from Cedar.....

elkantlers · Jul 8, 2024

I hope it doesn't get any structures, but honestly this fire will be a good thing.

southernutahhunter · Jul 8, 2024

Two fires on the Beaver unit. This will be the new reason they say has hurt deer numbers on the Beaver.

elkassassin · Jul 9, 2024

Hey Wiff?

Are you Next On The Waiting List?

Bigwiffy said:
Those of you with a tag this year may want to keep an eye on the fire that started. It could burn up a lot of that lower country south of Skutem. On the bright side it might be good in a few years.

slamdunk · Jul 9, 2024

Probably smells like fresh baked apple pie down there

yoteduster · Jul 9, 2024

slamdunk said:
Probably smells like fresh baked apple pie down there

LoL....I'll bet your right

Bigwiffy · Jul 9, 2024

elkassassin said:
Hey Wiff?

Are you Next On The Waiting List?

Nah only if they offer me a Pauns doe tag

2lumpy · Jul 9, 2024

southernutahhunter said:
Two fires on the Beaver unit. This will be the new reason they say has hurt deer numbers on the Beaver.

By next spring the young growth browse will have a large share of the Beaver deer herd on it. It should actually be a godsend to the mule deer population. Certainly more than the bureaucrats can or will do to grow more animals to hunt.

southernutahhunter · Jul 9, 2024

if this is the case maybe a better count can actually be taken on deer numbers.

2lumpy · Jul 9, 2024

Drove over to Marysville (Beaver Unit) this afternoon. Fire Warden out of Idaho reported that upwards of 400 men/women are working the fire today. It’s about a mile to 1.5 miles above the homes in Bullion Canyon. Wind was pushing the fire south east angling south…… away from the town of Marysville. That’s a good thing!!!

Warden said that no dwellings had been lost as of this time. I was glad to hear that. I know folks with cabins up in that country.

Still burning in rough rocky canyons but starting to get close the areas where they can fight it.

Two choppers were hauling water in drop bucket containers. About every 5-10 minutes between each dump. Didn’t appear to have any retardants powders being used as of yet.

Tikka · Jul 9, 2024

I’m assuming they’re getting the water out of Piute reservoir, how’s the water level in Piute this year?

GeorgeE · Jul 9, 2024

This the season…Damn!

2lumpy · Jul 9, 2024

Tikka said:
I’m assuming they’re getting the water out of Piute reservoir, how’s the water level in Piute this year?

I was thinking so too but it seemed like they were reloading to quick to be going quite that far. You may be right though.

Those buckets haul a pretty good load of water. The steam that comes off, when it hits the ground is pretty amazing as well.

southernutahhunter · Jul 9, 2024

Water level good in Piute right now

Tikka · Jul 9, 2024

2lumpy said:
I was thinking so too but it seemed like they were reloading to quick to be going quite that far. You may be right though.

Those buckets haul a pretty good load of water. The steam that comes off, when it hits the ground is pretty amazing as well.t

It’s quite a sight watching the orchestrated chaos isn’t it? I really could sit and watch for hours, I know that sounds crazy but it’s pretty neat…

notdonhunting · Jul 9, 2024

2lumpy said:
I was thinking so too but it seemed like they were reloading to quick to be going quite that far. You may be right though.

Those buckets haul a pretty good load of water. The steam that comes off, when it hits the ground is pretty amazing as well.

I was down at Marysvale for 16 hours on Sunday and again on Monday they was using the local VFD'S until the Type 2 team took over. A few VFD'S signed in and are working on the Type 2 team now.
They had 3 Type 1 helicopter's, 2 bucket drop choppers, and 1 snorkel chopper working all day Sunday and Monday. They were working out of two irrigation ponds just west of Marysvale. My engine was posted about 300 yards from the north pond and about 1/2 mile from the south pond.
It would take them around 7 or 8 minutes for a round trip if they was flying over into Beaver creek and around 5 minutes if they was flying up into Bullion canyon, I kept thinking they would run out of water but they kept that pace up for around 9 to 10 hours a day. They would go back to Richfield for fuel, and they were only gone for about 1/2 hour.
They did have a DC 10 make a couple drops of retardant Sunday evening when the winds died down, but he did not come out on Monday. Maybe they sent him to another fire.
They had 3 hotshot teams on the fire. Vegas, Snake River, and Idaho City shots. I have been around the hotshot teams a few times, and i am always amazed at the level of organization and respect that they go by.
For the most part my engine was mostly for Structure protection so we did alot of watching. We did run two crews on my engine and the night crew did get the opportunity to go be the water source for one of the shot teams on a burn out, it was a good opportunity for a couple of younger guys on my department.

2lumpy · Jul 10, 2024

notdonhunting said:
I was down at Marysvale for 16 hours on Sunday and again on Monday they was using the local VFD'S until the Type 2 team took over. A few VFD'S signed in and are working on the Type 2 team now.
They had 3 Type 1 helicopter's, 2 bucket drop choppers, and 1 snorkel chopper working all day Sunday and Monday. They were working out of two irrigation ponds just west of Marysvale. My engine was posted about 300 yards from the north pond and about 1/2 mile from the south pond.
It would take them around 7 or 8 minutes for a round trip if they was flying over into Beaver creek and around 5 minutes if they was flying up into Bullion canyon, I kept thinking they would run out of water but they kept that pace up for around 9 to 10 hours a day. They would go back to Richfield for fuel, and they were only gone for about 1/2 hour.
They did have a DC 10 make a couple drops of retardant Sunday evening when the winds died down, but he did not come out on Monday. Maybe they sent him to another fire.
They had 3 hotshot teams on the fire. Vegas, Snake River, and Idaho City shots. I have been around the hotshot teams a few times, and i am always amazed at the level of organization and respect that they go by.
For the most part my engine was mostly for Structure protection so we did alot of watching. We did run two crews on my engine and the night crew did get the opportunity to go be the water source for one of the shot teams on a burn out, it was a good opportunity for a couple of younger guys on my department.

Thanks for adding a bunch of clarity notdon. You firefighters are unsung hero’s for a lot of people. Be safe out there this summer.

elkassassin · Jul 10, 2024

That Would Depend On How Hot The Fire Burns/Burnt!

We Had A HOT Fire Here Just A few Years Ago & I Can GUARAN-DAMN-TEE You There Is Nothing Good About A HOT Fire That Somebody Said:Just Let It Burn!

It Scorched The Ground So Hard Nothing Wants To Grow Back!

When It Rains The Erosion Is UN-Believable!

There Shoulda Been Some Major Timbering Taking Place Pre-Beetle Kill That Mighta Helped A Little!

Oh But We Can't Do That!

Now A Not So Hot Fire Can Be Some Help!

Here In This Area It Seems The Deer Like The Post Burns But About 2-3 Years Afterwords It's A Done Deal!

HOT SUM BEACH Out There Boys!

Be Careful!

Bigwiffy said:
Those of you with a tag this year may want to keep an eye on the fire that started. It could burn up a lot of that lower country south of Skutem. On the bright side it might be good in a few years.

Tank · Jul 10, 2024

I spent my early yrs growing up in Marysvale. We had one of the houses above the old church. Dad taught school there. But we spent a lot of evenings on his '78 Yamaha 175 driving those canyons looking for deer. Such a great time to grow up in that area. But a burn could help the area if it doesn't get too hot.

Betterluckythangood · Jul 10, 2024

What about the cheatgrass? What will be the plan for reseeding? Asking for myself out of curiosity. What should be the plan?

2lumpy · Jul 10, 2024

Previous burns on the Fish Lake National Forest, where possible and practical, they have reseeded with native grass. The aspens and scrub oak will usually regenerate on there own, but I suppose if the fire to so hot it destroys the root system, then they may have an alternative approach but, for all the fires I’ve seen over the years, reseeding the native grass has worked well on the Fish Lake Forest, as far as it goes. The one thing lacking is browse, such as the bitter brush and buck brush etc. The mule deer will do well on the young aspen trees but within 5 or 6 years the aspen buds are too tall to reach, so they need a different food source. I worry they aren’t getting it because I see very very little browse on old burn areas.

A number of years ago, a bunch of us started helping the local kids with their Eagle Scout projects. We hand seeded a few hundred acres of a burn above Highway 24, on the way to Fish Lake. I check the area every spring to see if any of the bitter brush we planted has sprouted. After about 8 years, I have yet to see a new sprout.

Very frustrating as far as the mule deer are concerned.

Bitter bush is a native plant for this area but apparently takes a loooong time to regenerate. This is what the native plant looked like here this spring.

Betterluckythangood · Jul 10, 2024

Thanks Lumpy for that response. It has to be disheartening that the bitter brush you planted has not sprouted after eight years. Thanks to you and the scouts for the hard work!

From my limited perspective, the key food sources for deer are oakbrush, bitterbrush and “buckbrush” (that might be the redneck term for it) I don’t know. At any rate I hope those plant species can be reestablished somehow in sufficient quantities.

southernutahhunter · Jul 10, 2024

I have made similar observations from these burns. Mostly comes back in cheat grass and have yet to see any bitter brush.

middlefork · Jul 10, 2024

Looks like bitter brush is a bit temperamental to establish at least according to this info.

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_putr2.pdf

I do know they try and rehabilitate the burns with native plants an seed if available. But they have a hard time out competing cheat grass.

Bluehair · Jul 10, 2024

I thought buckbrush was th3 redneck term for cliffrose?

2lumpy · Jul 10, 2024

Hey……. let’s not start in on the genealogy right now.

ridgetops · Jul 11, 2024

Bluehair said:
I thought buckbrush was th3 redneck term for cliffrose?

I think "buckbrush" is thrown out there when a person has no clue what the plant is really called.

2lumpy · Jul 11, 2024

ridgetops said:
I think "buckbrush" is thrown out there when a person has no clue what the plant is really called.

That would be me.

Betterluckythangood · Jul 11, 2024

I knew what you were talking about

tylercreek2 · Jul 11, 2024

Ceanothus cuneatus is buckbrush

Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC.)

Bluehair · Jul 11, 2024

tylercreek2 said:
Ceanothus cuneatus is buckbrush

Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC.)

Ceanothus is Native to Oregon, CA, and baja. Sorry, that’s not what we call buckbrush in Colorado.

ridgetops · Jul 11, 2024

2lumpy said:
That would be me.

I think that would apply to most of us.

WannaB · Jul 11, 2024

It looks like the Paun fire was out when I drove past yesterday (I saw it burning Saturday night). The bigger of the Beaver fires is a sizeable fire. Impressive to watch.

Gator · Jul 11, 2024

Best to start hoping for fall showers to start the growth back, So if are in touch with the BIG guy up above ask him to help out.

Bluehair · Jul 11, 2024

Gator said:
Best to start hoping for fall showers to start the growth back, So if are in touch with the BIG guy up above ask him to help out.

Getting a little smoky around Blanding way, but probably from Az somewhere. You making it out this way this summer?

Gator · Jul 12, 2024

Hope to see ya late summer got some steel I have to haul up.

Ac300win · Jul 13, 2024

Bluehair said:
Ceanothus is Native to Oregon, CA, and baja. Sorry, that’s not what we call buckbrush in Colorado.

There is native ceanothus in Utah. We always called it buck brush as well but its common name is mojavi ceanothus (Ceanothus Pauciflorus). Early succession plants are highly palatable deer browse but decreases as plants get older.

As pointed out though post fire recovery of fires with heavy fuel loads and extreme heat can damage soil lengthening recovery period for years…bad deal for soil stability and big game/wildlife browse and forage