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**Silver King Fire Daily Update - July 11, 2024**

Yesterday fire crews continued to improve dozer lines in the southeast, tying into an area that burned in 2002. Firefighters also mopped up along the eastern edge of the fire where they performed firing operations. “Mop up” is a critical part of wildland firefighting that involves extinguishing a fire after it has been contained. The goal of mopping up is to reduce the likelihood of the fire spreading into unburned areas by removing any remaining burning materials that could ignite nearby fuels.

A very large air tanker (VLAT) aircraft dropped loads of retardant over heavy timber south of Edna Peak to slow fire growth to the south. Fire managers will be utilizing the unmanned aircraft (UAS) to engage in firing operations in this area to further minimize fire severity. “Firing operations” are among the key tools firefighters use when trying to contain a large wildfire. To carry out a firing operation, firefighters cut away vegetation to make a line of bare soil ahead of a fire, and then burn the vegetation between that line and the actively burning fire front.

Crews are securing handlines and dozer lines from the 113 Road to Sargent Mountain to prevent northern and eastern fire progression and reduce impacts to private property and the historic Silver King Mine area. Crews performed point protection tactics including thinning and limbing vegetation and installing water systems near Elk Ranch and other structures in the area.

The wind has been backing off a bit, but temperatures continue to climb into the high 90s and 100s with relative humidities around 8-13 percent. Smoke is continuing to impact surrounding communities. The Team’s Air Resource Advisor provides a daily smoke report to inform the public of air quality conditions. Smoke reports are posted on Facebook and in public locations in Richfield and Marysvale and along Highway 89 on fire information boards. 

The Fishlake National Forest has issued a closure order that can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fishlake/alerts-notices. The Castle Rock Campground remains open.