Operations are going as planned on the Pine Ridge Fire in Uintah County. According to Utah Fire Info, the fire has shifted down to a Type 4 organization with resources scaled back to two engines, two crews and one helicopter. The focus will continue to be the mop-up operation and hardening the perimeter fireline.
Bart Haslem visited the KVEL studio this week for an interview on the Meet the Candidate Forum. Haslem is running for Uintah County Commission Seat A and his campaign information is available at www.barthaslem.com.
A dog’s unexplained death on Thursday is under investigation. According to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, a fisherman and his dog were at Flaming Gorge fishing along the west bank in the Haystack Buttes area about 28 miles south of Green River when the dog became sick for no apparent reason.
Memorial Day to Labor Day marks a timeframe all Utah drivers should take seriously. “We’re beginning the hundred deadliest days of the year,” shares UHP Sgt. Kellie Oaks. “Please wear your seat belt and be a kind driver!” As of May 1st, there had been 70 lives lost so far in Utah traffic fatalities. Utah’s zero fatalities campaign urges all drivers to avoid the 5 deadly driving behaviors: drowsy, distracted, aggressive, impaired and not buckling up. In 2017, 273 lives were lost on Utah roads. 20 of those were due to distracted driving, 29 were DUI, 87 were unrestrained, 85 were from aggressive driving and 6 due to drowsy driving.
The list of abuse and violations tied to the Daggett County Jail scandal are outlined in a report from the Department of Corrections. Deseret News shares that the final report goes into detail about misbehavior of jail staff based on interviews with employees and inmates as well as surveillance video and using the internal memory device on the Taser used.
A Critical Incident Response Team is investigating an officer involved shooting that occured on Sunday afternoon in western Colorado’s Mesa County. According to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, two BLM officers approached a white van in the desert near the Bookcliffs in Mesa County and 27 ¼ Road and an officer involved shooting took place.
Firefighters continued to make headway toward containment of the Pine Ridge Fire on Monday, shares Utah Fire Info. The fire did not consume any new acres on Monday and crews achieved 50 percent containment, reports Incident Commander Jason Porter. Full containment is expected by the end of Thursday’s shift. “Smoke will be visible for the next few weeks from the Sawtooth Ridge area,” shares Utah Fire Info.
Travelers and visitors in and around Strawberry Reservoir on Monday witnessed an amazing sight. National Weather Service reports that what was likely a non-supercell landspout tornado briefly touched down at Strawberry Reservoir at around 1:10pm. Thankfully there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Mark Thomas visited the KVEL studio last week for an interview on the Meet the Candidate Forum. Thomas is running as the incumbent Uintah County Attorney. His campaign information is available on the Facebook page: ‘Mark Thomas, Re Elect for Uintah County Attorney.’
The Pine Ridge Fire activity is at a minimum, according to a Utah Fire Info report on Monday morning. No growth occurred on Sunday night and firelines held through the night. Full containment is expected by the end of Thursday’s shift.