It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Joe Hill Monument in Joseph, UT gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Joseph, UT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Best ever. Always very great service. Whitney is awesome.”
“Working for Always Best Care has been a wonderful experience. They genuinely care about”
“I've been a caregiver for ABC clients for just over 6 months. I absolutely love”
“Lea, Brent and the staff are great. Because I live in a different city, the”
“My experience with Always Best Care was hands down amazing! Their staff is super attentive”
“I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the exceptional care Siale provided for”
“Best ever. Always very great service. Whitney is awesome.”
“Working for Always Best Care has been a wonderful experience. They genuinely care about their clients and go above and beyond to make sure that the employees and the clients are valued and important. They are so great to focus on compassion, quality care, and teamwork.”
“I've been a caregiver for ABC clients for just over 6 months. I absolutely love what I do, I love all of the clients, I love the feedback I get from my team! I love my manager shelly!! she is so amazing with communication and so focused on how to help me succeed and grow with this company, and so attentive to our clients! I am so happy to be able to help our clients each day and have such an amazing team!”
“Lea, Brent and the staff are great. Because I live in a different city, the staff takes care of my father’s needs where he lives. Maria is wonderful with my dad. I’ve not personally met the staff, except Maria, but I’m very grateful for all they do for my dad and me. Appreciate them.”
“My experience with Always Best Care was hands down amazing! Their staff is super attentive and kind. I always felt like I was their first priority and that they really cared about me. 10/10 would recommend!!”
“I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the exceptional care Siale provided for my dad. He was committed to delivering the highest quality of care and truly valued my dad as a patient. Siale, he goes over and beyond to make a positive impact on the lives of his patients.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Wallowa Lake State Park in Joseph, UT with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Bambara Salt Lake City or visit Joseph Smith Memorial Building, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Joseph, UT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Joseph, UT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Joseph, UT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
DALLAS – June 25, 2026 – Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Cardiology, Professor of Molecular Biology, and Director of the Harry S. Moss Heart Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has received the Gold Heart Award, the American Heart Association’s (AHA) highest volunteer honor.“I have always believed that when someone reaches a certain point in their career, it’s important to give back,” Dr. Hill said. “It’s been incredibly gratifying to ...
DALLAS – June 25, 2026 – Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Cardiology, Professor of Molecular Biology, and Director of the Harry S. Moss Heart Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has received the Gold Heart Award, the American Heart Association’s (AHA) highest volunteer honor.
“I have always believed that when someone reaches a certain point in their career, it’s important to give back,” Dr. Hill said. “It’s been incredibly gratifying to have been able to serve the cardiovascular medicine and research community in multiple volunteer roles.”
The Gold Heart Award recognizes Dr. Hill’s volunteer leadership roles within the AHA, particularly as editor-in-chief of Circulation, its flagship journal – a position he will leave June 30 after a decade of service. The award was announced June 23 at the AHA’s National Volunteer Awards ceremony in Irving, Texas.
When Dr. Hill began his leadership of Circulation in 2016, its impact factor – a measure of a journal’s prestige and influence based on the number of citations its articles receive – was 19. It has more than doubled since then and currently stands at 41, making it the most influential journal in cardiovascular health.
The editorial board’s careful decisions on which articles to publish – about six of the 100 submissions it receives each week – have played an enormous part in boosting Circulation’s impact factor. Over the last decade, Dr. Hill has devoted about 80 hours monthly to Circulation, including a weekly two-hour meeting with more than 40 associate editors in 17 countries and 10 time zones to discuss which papers will make the cut.
The team also introduced three annual special issues during Dr. Hill’s tenure, including a “Go Red for Women” issue on female cardiovascular health, plus others based on cardiovascular surgery and disparities in cardiovascular medicine. These choices have shaped the field of cardiology globally.
“What Joe did leading Circulation is nothing short of remarkable. He built a global team of editors that was essential to achieve his collaborative ‘one world’ vision of cardiovascular science, yet the core of the team was based at UT Southwestern,” said James de Lemos, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and of Epidemiology in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health and Chief of the Division of Cardiology. “The weekly meetings – the best journal club any of us has been involved with – will remain a career highlight for all of us. We’re all so proud and grateful to have been invited to be part of this journey.”
The Gold Heart Award also recognizes Dr. Hill’s numerous volunteer roles outside the AHA, including stints as President of the Association of University Cardiologists and Chair of the Academic Council of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Hill is also a dedicated mentor both in the clinic and the lab and a three-time recipient of UT Southwestern’s Outstanding Teacher Award.
After earning medical and doctoral degrees at Duke University, Dr. Hill completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, followed by internal medicine residency training and a clinical cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2002 to become Chief of the Division of Cardiology, a position he held for 21 years before stepping down in 2023.
Dr. Hill’s many honors include the 2025 Gill Heart and Vascular Institute Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cardiovascular Research, the 2023 Medal of Merit from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, the 2019 Louis and Artur Lucian Award from McGill University, and the 2018 Research Achievement Award from the International Society for Heart Research.
Dr. Hill holds the Frank M. Ryburn, Jr. Chair in Heart Research and the James T. Willerson, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Diseases. Dr. de Lemos holds the Sweetheart Ball - Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D. Distinguished Chair in Cardiology.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 27 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of nearly 3,400 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians in more than 80 specialties care for more than 143,000 hospitalized patients, attend to more than 470,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.3 million outpatient visits a year.
Joseph Lecak has a zeal for life. He enjoys golfing, tending to his vegetable garden and traveling all over the U.S. with his softball team.But a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March 2025 changed everything. At one point during treatment, he got so sick that he resigned himself to whatever quality of life he was going to have while he got his affairs in order.Thanks to a personalized treatment plan at UT MD Anderson, Joseph is now feeling much better and back to doing what he loves.Pancreatic cancer diagnosisJos...
Joseph Lecak has a zeal for life. He enjoys golfing, tending to his vegetable garden and traveling all over the U.S. with his softball team.
But a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March 2025 changed everything. At one point during treatment, he got so sick that he resigned himself to whatever quality of life he was going to have while he got his affairs in order.
Thanks to a personalized treatment plan at UT MD Anderson, Joseph is now feeling much better and back to doing what he loves.
Joseph competed in a softball tournament two weeks prior to his pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
“I played well, and my stamina was fine,” he recalls. “But about a week later when playing softball in my neighborhood, I felt extremely fatigued.”
Then came the digestive issues, the yellowing of his skin and dark-colored urine. After researching online, he thought the symptoms were related to his gallbladder. So, he went to an emergency room near his home in Georgetown, Texas.
A CT scan revealed a mass on his pancreas.
“The ER doctor said it was probably cancer and that it wasn’t his area of expertise; I needed to see a specialist,” recalls Joseph, who was 67 at the time. “He told me and my wife, Rose, that based on the size of the tumor, I probably had about six to 12 months to live.”
Joseph had family members who were treated at UT MD Anderson, so he was familiar with the care provided here. He had his first appointment with pancreatic cancer surgeon Matthew Katz, M.D., on April 1, 2025.
Katz went over treatment options with Joseph. The cancer was resectable, meaning the tumor could be surgically removed.
“He explained the Whipple procedure to me, and he didn’t sugarcoat anything. He told me it would be tough, but he believed I was healthy enough to fully recover,” says Joseph. “I told him that my goal was to be able to play in a major softball tournament against teams from all over the country within a year. He replied, ‘We can do that.’”
Joseph also met with gastrointestinal medical oncologist Chandrikha Chandrasekharan, M.B.B.S., who agreed with the treatment plan.
On April 7, 2025, Katz performed a complex Whipple procedure that included reconstruction of affected veins. Five of the 38 lymph nodes that were removed were positive for cancer. Joseph and Rose stayed in Houston for three weeks while he recovered.
“I had a pancreatic leak, but thankfully I was still in Houston when I started having symptoms, so my care team caught it quickly,” he says.
Doctors recommended Joseph get chemotherapy due to the lymph node involvement. The chemo would also help prevent cancer recurrence. Chandrasekharan arranged for Joseph’s port placement and chemotherapy to be administered near his home.
After one round of FOLFIRINOX, he became very sick and lost a lot of weight.
Joseph spoke with his doctors, who explained that further chemotherapy with modifications is standard of care after recovery. Ultimately, he decided to stop taking chemo. He began palliative care locally, unsure of what his future would be.
On his most difficult days, Joseph leaned on his support system, which included Rose, his local cancer support group, softball club, neighbors, friends and family. He also reconnected with his faith. This helped fuel his determination.
Joseph slowly began to ease back into playing golf and softball, though not at the level he was before. He developed ascites, which caused severe abdominal pain and made eating difficult.
“The buildup of fluid in my abdomen looked like I was carrying around a watermelon,” he says.
During a follow-up appointment at UT MD Anderson, Katz told Joseph that his ascites may be related to problems with his portal system. So, he referred Joseph to Interventional Radiology. He had a consultation with interventional radiologist Joshua Kuban, M.D., and physician assistant Rachel Futrell. They specialize in portal hypertension and procedures to improve the portal system.
They explained that a blockage of his portal vein was causing the ascites. Portal vein stenting is a minimally invasive procedure that allows them to reopen a critical blood vessel and restore healthy blood flow to the liver. By fixing the blockage, it would improve circulation, reduce fluid buildup and lower the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. This would help Joseph feel better quickly without the need for major surgery.
Joseph was on board. So, Kuban performed the procedure on Nov. 11, 2025.
“I felt almost immediate relief,” says Joseph. “My appetite improved. It was a phenomenal change, and my recovery since has been remarkable.”
Joseph credits his recovery to his UT MD Anderson care team – whom he calls lifesavers – as well as his support system.
“I never felt isolated throughout the entire process; that’s a blessing,” he says. “I also took a lot of pictures and videos, and I wrote a lot in my journal. That helped me recover because I was able to see my progress, even if it was small.”
One notable point of progress: he’s back traveling the U.S. playing in major softball tournaments – the same goal he shared with Katz before his Whipple surgery.
His scans have remained clear, showing no evidence of disease. And he recently moved into surveillance at UT MD Anderson.
“UT MD Anderson is the best in the world for cancer care. That’s why I sought them out,” says Joseph.
He was excited to learn that UT MD Anderson will begin providing care in Austin at UT Dell Medical Center in a few years.
“I live 40 miles from Austin, and a lot of people in my community make that drive to Houston to go to UT MD Anderson,” he says. “Everyone I’ve spoken to about it is excited to have that level of care and expertise close to home. Being able to get treatment and then come sleep in your own bed is a real positive. I’m extremely grateful for the care I’ve received.”
FILLMORE, Utah () — The fast-growing Wide Mouth 2 Fire continues to rage on in Fillmore.As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire is mapped at 84,000 acres and is 0% contained. Growth is mainly occurring on the eastern flank.According to the Sevier County Emergency Manager Bill Taufer, the fire is encroaching on 20-25 private properties around the Joseph Peak area, leading to an active evacuation order right now. The town of Joseph is not being evacuated. A team did a sweep and said they found no individuals in the area, indicati...
FILLMORE, Utah () — The fast-growing Wide Mouth 2 Fire continues to rage on in Fillmore.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire is mapped at 84,000 acres and is 0% contained. Growth is mainly occurring on the eastern flank.
According to the Sevier County Emergency Manager Bill Taufer, the fire is encroaching on 20-25 private properties around the Joseph Peak area, leading to an active evacuation order right now. The town of Joseph is not being evacuated. A team did a sweep and said they found no individuals in the area, indicating everyone has likely evacuated.
At this point, no buildings have been lost on the Sevier County side, and structure crews are in the area working to get structures stabilized. Anybody who owns property in the affected area who would like to be added to the property owner contact list should contact Taufer or other liaisons with the Incident Management Team 2.
The public should also avoid the area.
Crews are taking a direct approach on the western flank of the fire and an indirect approach on the southern and eastern areas, where the fire is being pushed towards. Those areas have limited access and heavy fuel and meets up with the Wild Goose Fire lines.
So far, officials have contributed 363 flight hours and dropped 556,530 gallons of water and 448,439 gallons of fire retardant onto the fire.
A Great Basin incident Management team arrived at the fire at 6 a.m. and took over from the Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team. During a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, they spoke on their interactions with the community since the fire started.
“This community is as unique as this fire. The experience we had here isn’t what we experience every fire we go to. Your elected officials, your community leaders, your Sheriff’s department, your local fire department, your state and county resources, your federal land management leaders, have all been amazing,” said NUT3 IMT Incident Commander trainee Lucas Yeamans.
Unfortunately, responding crews are facing significant issues while responding to the Wide Mouth 2 fire.
Firefighters are currently facing escalating critical weather conditions as temperatures climb back toward triple digits, accompanied by single-digit humidity levels. The next few days will likely bring more intense fire activity. Fortunately, the monsoon pattern is expected to set back up next week, with chances of moisture in the area.
“There might be some hope coming. The monsoon pattern finally sets back up next week,” said incident meteorologist John Keys.
Another large issue is the lack of resources available to fight this fire. Less than 200 personnel are on scene of this fire and, while a Great Basin team has responded, there are fires across the United States.
Around 26 incident management teams are responding to fires and officials say it is possible that resources will be diverted from the Wide Mouth 2 fire, if another incidence takes precedence.
Currently, due to the fire, over 60 homes are in ‘GO’ evacuation status, with hundreds of other residences in ‘SET’ status. All evacuation levels remain the same throughout Kanosh, Meadow, and Fillmore.
Residents can find the latest evacuation updates on the Millard County Sheriff’s Facebook page and through alerts on their devices.
In the meantime, locals are asked to stay safe as smoke fills the air.
“With the smoke it brings poor air quality. We would advise residents take precautions,” said Carl Hunt with the Great Basin Team 2.
The Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team met with the public on Monday evening to express their gratitude toward local leaders and the community following the fire.
The team acknowledged those most impacted by the blaze during the session.
“This community is as unique as this fire. The experience we had here isn’t what we experience every fire we go to. Your elected officials, your community leaders, your Sheriff’s department, your local fire department, your state and county resources, your federal land management leaders, have all been amazing,” said NUT3 IMT Incident Commander trainee Lucas Yeamans.
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