Summary: At 5:30pm June 24, 2021, the Color Country Interagency Communication Center received a report of a wildland fire start. Local resources are on scene and aerial resources are currently being used. Smoke can be seen from St. George, Utah.
Start Date: June 24, 2021
Location: Mile marker 25, Virgin River Gorge
Jurisdiction: Arizona Strip District, Bureau of Land Management
Fire Size: Estimated at 1001 acres. (Note: No growth on the fire today, slight increase is due to more accurate mapping)
Cause: Human Caused, under investigation
Closures: No closures are in effect. All lanes of travel along Interstate 15 in the Virgin River Gorge are open for travel. Fire managers wish to thank the public for their cooperation and patience during the temporary lane closure that enabled fire fighter access to manage the fire and remain safe while doing so.
Fuels: Grass, brush
Structures: None
Containment: 85%
Fire Crews/Resources: Local resources on scene include 2 engines,1 Hot Shot Crew, 2 Type II Initial Attack Crews, 1 Water Tender, 1 Type 3 Helicopter. Total personnel; 39.
Conditions: Fire fighters will continue to patrol the fire and conduct mop up.
Public Service Announcement: Vehicles account for over 75% of the human starts on the Arizona Strip. Fire managers wish to remind the public to avoid throwing sparks and help prevent fires by implementing the following safety rules: 1) practice safe towing by securing chains and using appropriate safety pins and hitches 2) ensure vehicles are properly maintained 3) avoid dragging anything on the ground, 3) check and maintain proper tire pressure 4) carry a fire extinguisher in vehicles and know how to use them 5) maintain brakes properly and 6) avoid driving vehicles on dry grass or brush as hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires.
For details, photos, and a map of the MM25I15 Fire go to: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7579/
Color Country Interagency Fire Management is an organization of fire management officials in southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona (the Arizona Strip) who promote safe and effective fire management through interagency cooperation. Since many wildfires and prescribed fires are of a multi-jurisdictional nature, interagency cooperation provides an ideal background for cohesive ecological, social, political, and economic considerations for land management. For more information concerning fire management in Color Country visit www.utahfireinfo.gov or contact any of the following agencies:
Bureau of Land Management (Cedar City) 435-865-3000
Bureau of Land Management (St. George) 435-688-3200
Dixie National Forest 435-865-3700
National Park Service (Zion National Park) 435-772-3256
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (Cedar City) 435-586-4408
Bureau of Indian Affairs (St. George) 435-674-9720
Get the latest regional fire updates on social media at the following pages:
Utah fire updates on Twitter https://twitter.com/UtahWildfire
Arizona fire updates on Twitter https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire
National wildfire listings go to: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
