Southwest Utah to implement fire restrictions
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Due to rapidly increasing fire danger, BLM and State Fire Managers are implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions beginning July 3 at 12:01 a.m. on all unincorporated Private and State lands in Washington, Kane (below the Forest Service boundary), Iron, and Beaver counties and all BLM-managed public lands in Washington County. Other Land management agencies are not implementing restrictions at this time.
“July through September are typically the driest and hottest months of the year. This year’s outlook is no different,” said Southwest Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands Fire Management Officer Dave Harmon. “Because of the higher-than-average spring precipitation, there is more grass on Utah’s landscapes. On windy days, wildfires have the potential to become larger because there’s more available fuel.”
While Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect, the following acts are prohibited:
No campfires or open fires outside of agency improved and maintained campgrounds and home sites in southwest Utah. Running water is required on cabins or homesites on unincorporated private land. Devices fueled by liquid petroleum are allowed.
No discharging of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices outside of incorporated city limits or on public lands (city-specific restrictions may apply). Fireworks are always prohibited on all Federal lands.
No shooting of exploding targets or tracer ammunition.
No cutting, grinding, or welding of metal in areas of dry vegetation. This includes acetylene torches.
No use of equipment without a working and properly maintained spark arrestor (if required).
No smoking near vegetation or outside of a developed recreation site, personal vehicle, or building.
No open fires of any kind are allowed in Zion National Park.
Campfires are allowed in agency improved and maintained campgrounds at Lava Point.
Campfires are allowed at Glen Canyon in established campgrounds within established rings and below the high-water mark, only in areas completely void of vegetation.
Please be aware that fire restrictions will be slightly different among agencies, and these restrictions do not apply to incorporated cities. Please check the specific fire restrictions with the respective land management agency before visiting.
Local, state, and federal fire officials urge Utahns to use their ‘Fire Sense’ to help prevent unwanted wildfires. ‘Fire Sense’ is an interagency fire awareness campaign that was implemented in 2021 to increase public knowledge on how to prevent wildland fires. For more information on preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires, agency-specific restrictions, and reference maps, visit www.utahfiresense.org, www.utahfireinfo.gov, and www.wildlandfire.az.gov or follow us on Twitter, @UtahWildfire.
-CCIFM-
Agency Media Contacts:
Paula Imlay, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, 385-228-6439
Jacqueline Russell, Color Country District, Bureau of Land Management, 435-691-8957
David Hercher, Paria River District, Bureau of Land Management, 435-899-0415
Rachel Carnahan, AZ Strip District, Bureau of Land Management, 435-688-3303
Kevin Greenhalgh, Dixie National Forest, USDA Forest Service, 435-865-3771
Chris Henrie, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 435-590-7355
Jonathan Shafer, Zion National Park, National Park Service, 435-772-0145
