File:Fires in Utah and Colorado (MODIS 2018-09-16).jpg

English: On September 13, 2018, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of fires in Utah and Colorado. Each red hot spot marks where the thermal bands on the instrument detected high temperatures. When combined with typical smoke, as in this image, such hot spots mark actively burning fire.

A cluster of three fires burn southeast of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. These are the Coal Hollow, Bald Mountain, and Pole Creek fires. The one visible in the northeast is the Boone Hallow Fire, located in Colorado.

The Coal Hollow Fire was ignited by a lightning strike on August 4 at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time. It was burning in timber, brush, and understory about 15 miles southeast of Spanish Fork and has consumed 31,662 acres as of September 12. It was 96 percent contained on that date.

The Bald Mountain Fire was started by lightning on the afternoon of August 24 in the Mount Nebo Wilderness just off the top of Bald Mountain. According to Inciweb, recent rain in the area created a reduction in fire danger, and the decision was made to employ a monitor strategy. Over the next 2-3 weeks, the fire grew very little – only about 20 acres. On September 12, due to low relative humidity and high winds, the fire spread quickly off the mountain to threaten communities in the north and east. As of September 15, the fire has burned 17,760 acres and efforts are being made to protect communities of Elk Ridge, Woodland Hills and homes near the mouth of Payson Canyon.

The Pole Creek Fire ignited on September 6, by lightning and was pushed by hot, dry winds. As of September 15, it had consumed 68,347 acres of timber, brush and understory about 15 miles northeast of Nephi, Utah close to the Bald Mountain Fire. It is only 2 percent contained.

Colorado’s Boone Draw Fire started on September 13 in the southwestern portion of Colorado’s Sandwash Basin Wild Horse Herd Management Area. The cause of the fire is under investigation. As of September 15, it had burned 8,079 acres and was only five percent contained.