Buckley Draw Fire has 12th drone intrusion, 42% contained

UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — The Buckley Draw Fire that is burning just outside Provo in Utah county is at 452 acres and is 42% contained, according to the latest information from the U.S. Forest Service.

Since the fire ignited on the Aug. 17, there has been 12 reportable drone intrusions into the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). Forest Service officials shared that they have been working closely with law enforcement and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the intrusions.

The illegal aircrafts are dangerous to firefighters, and officials are urging people to stop flying them over crews working to save homes, forests, and trails. “There is no photo worth someone’s life,” they said.

The team is still working with law enforcement to determine the owners of the aircrafts.

Closures in place

There are multiple closures in place at the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest due to the fire. These apply to area roads, trails, trailheads, parking areas, and recreation sites.

Crews say the heat from the fire remains mostly on the north, northeast, and east flanks of the fire. The threat of both lightning and wet, slippery terrain is causing increased safety concerns for firefighters.

“If a hotspot remains through cooler temperatures and rain, it has potential to become even more active in high temperatures and windy conditions. This could cause fire growth, which is why firefighters will remain working this fire despite its lack of visible flames in the Provo valley,” officials noted in a press release.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.