<\/p>\n
A 15-acre fire is burning in Utah\u2019s Dark Canyon Wilderness, about 45 miles west of Monticello.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, smoke was reported in the wilderness area near Brushy Knoll. It has been slow-growing, and as of 4 p.m. Thursday, was estimated at 15 acres, according to Heather McLean, a fire prevention technician with the U.S. Forest Service.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is burning in subalpine fir, ponderosa pine and gambel oak on a northeast facing slope in Peavine Canyon,\u201d the Forest Service said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The fire led to the closures of two trails, McLean said.<\/p>\n
The steep and rocky terrain call for indirect methods of fighting the fire, according to officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeather conditions are right, and since high value areas are not threatened, fire behavior allows for using the most appropriate action,\u201d said Moab\/Monticello District Ranger Michael Diem.<\/p>\n
Forest users are asked to avoid the fire area at this time, and are urged to be careful in lower elevations, since drying grass is creating a fire hazard.<\/p>\n