A desire to help those that have lost their homes in the Dollar Ridge Fire has inspired multiple charity events this week. A Dollar Ridge Fire-Aid concert featuring famous country artist Jamie O’Neil is among them and every adult that attends has the chance to gain more than just a night of entertainment and the satisfaction of helping a worthy cause.
Firefighters continue to work on the Bear Trap Fire including one firefighter who made a trip to the hospital. The BIA Forestry & Wildland Fire-Uintah & Ouray Agency reports that the firefighters have been working hard to secure the majority of the fire on the east and southeastern flanks and one firefighter was injured “but due to properly executed protocol, the firefighter was treated, transported to a Price hospital, released, and is now back on the fire.”
The community and many local businesses are joining together in a big way to help our neighbors in need. The Dollar Ridge Fire-Aid Fair has a goal of raising $50,000 dollars for those that lost homes in the Dollar Ridge Fire. The community is invited to be involved by participating in the Live Radio Auction on Eagle County 105.5 KLCY on Friday, August 24th.
While there are many challenges for firefighters on the Bear Trap Fire, daily thunderstorms have helped them in their cause. The BIA Forestry & Wildland Fire-Uintah & Ouray Agency reports that the storms have cooled temperatures and provided overcast skies that have helped firefighters cool hotspots along established fire lines. The Bear Trap Fire has increased to 10,220 acres and only about 10 to 15 percent of the fire’s perimeter is accessible to ground crews. The rest of the perimeter is in steep, rugged terrain where firefighters cannot safely engage. The fire is largely being fought from the air. Thankfully there have been no injuries and no structures lost so far. A Ute Tribal Youth Camp and a private ranch in Grand County are still considered threatened.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office provided more information on a case this week in which a 19-year-old was sentenced to a minimum of 8 years in prison for a charge related to sexting with a 16-year-old. Based on the limited information released by the Sheriff’s Office and reported throughout the region in the media, questions came pouring into the Sheriff’s Office from people concerned that the punishment given to 19-year-old Colton Levi Minard did not fit the crime.
Officials are offering a firm reminder to the public on staying out of restricted areas near the Dollar Ridge Fire. Utah Fire Info shares that safety officers assigned to the fire noted an increase on Thursday of people attempting to enter areas near the fire.
The transition at the Vernal Regional Airport to Skywest under United Airlines has gone well and numbers are up. Airport Manager Doug Brown gave a report during the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday explaining that the numbers for July are 150 percent higher than the highest previous numbers.
The unveiling of the Eric Dowdle painting on Wednesday morning at Vernal City Hall attracted a diverse crowd excited to get a closer look at the folk art’s local aspects. After a short welcome and introduction by Zions Bank officials, a video featuring Eric Dowdle was played, in which the artist further explained his inspiration on the project.
The Vernal City Police Department is working with the Utah Highway Safety Office to keep Vernal a safe place for pedestrians and motorists. “The Vernal City Police Department will be conducting enforcement activities at several crosswalks within Vernal City, to include mid-block crosswalks, crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections, and crosswalks controlled by pedestrian activated crossing signals,” shares Vernal PD.
The Dollar Ridge Fire is reported at 68,480 acres and remains at 90 percent containment. Fire officials say that “there are large unburned pockets well within the perimeter of the fire that will continue to burn, possibly until the area receives significant rain or the first snow falls.