Dangerous mudslides expected to continue near Heise due to heavy rain
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HEISE — After multiple road closures due to mudslides on Thursday, officials say they are bracing for additional damage to the roads near Heise.
Due to heavy rainfall and debris caused by the recent Big Rock Fire, multiple closures are in place after mud and rocks have covered the road.
On the west side of the Heise Bridge, Heise Road from the bridge to the Madison County Line is closed. On the east side, the entire road from the bridge into Heise is closed to everyone except residents and business owners.
“Active flooding and road washouts are occurring along South Snake River Road through Heise and the Greater Kelly Canyon area following the recent fire,” says a post from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. “The burned and unstable ground has increased the risk of washouts, flooding, and land movement. South Snake River Road will be closed before Cress Creek on our side and will extend into the Heise/Jefferson area.”
RELATED | Heise Road closed due to mudslides from heavy rainfall
According to Jefferson County Emergency Manager Rebecca Squires, officials are preparing for worsening conditions, as rainfall is expected to continue into Friday.
“We’re waiting to see what happens with the next bout of rain. We do anticipate there will be more mud flow, more debris flow, and that the road could become impassable,” says Squires. “Any drivers that do come this way need to be extraordinarily cautious.”
Squires says this stretch of road is often troublesome during heavy rainfall, but the Big Rock Fire has worsened conditions.
“Because of the charred soil, the soil doesn’t accept moisture. It sheds moisture like water on a duck’s back,” says Squires. “As that water falls down the slope, it picks up ash, debris, and mud, and that becomes debris flow.”
The mudslides that have already occurred are closer to Madison County, according to Squires, and the damage to the road is unclear as of now.
“The Crest Creek side, this road has been problematic for many years. It’s very narrow, there is a cliff on one side, and a river on the other,” says Squires. “In heavy rain, we always get some damage to the road. Now, with the burn scar, that has been amplified.”
Squires says crews will assess the damage in the coming days as the rain continues and begin planning for repairs to reopen the road.
“The west side of the bridge gets very, very hazardous, very, very risky, and we don’t want anybody through there,” says Squires.
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