Quail Fire Perimeter

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, it is possible to download a kmz file from the Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group (GeoMac), pump it into Google Earth, and have a look at what the Quail Fire east of Alpine has burned.

Thusfar, the fire has burned through minor canyons between the Dry Fork Canyon, which extends into the basin between the Pfeifferhorn and Box Elder Peak (just left of the fire perimeter above), and American Fork Canyon (right of the fire perimeter).  What a shame.  Fire can be good, but intense fires of this type are probably not ideal.

The fire area did not grow yesterday and with the cooler, wetter weather, is now 50% contained.  Any spread from it's current area would likely impact areas that are more heavily recreated, including hiking trails that access Box Elder Peak.

At issue for homes near Alpine now will be the potential for long-running mudslides.  I'm sure the National Weather Service will be carefully evaluating this potential ASAP.