Fire restrictions implemented in Washington County, Utah and the Arizona Strip | Environment

This is a news release from the Bureau of Land Management.

Due to high fire danger in southwest Utah and northwest Arizona, Color Country Interagency Fire Managers are implementing fire restrictions on all public lands and unincorporated state and private lands in Washington County, Utah, all BLM-administered public lands within the Arizona Strip District in Coconino and Mohave Counties in Arizona.

Restrictions also include all Bureau of Indian Affairs administered trust lands on the Shivwits Band and Kaibab Band Reservations and all Forest Service administered lands on the Pine Valley Ranger District beginning Friday, June 24 at 12:01 a.m.

These restrictions do not apply to incorporated towns and cities. Zion National Park additionally is restricting any campfires in Watchman and South Campgrounds in Zion Canyon, but will allow propane or gas stoves.

The following acts will be prohibited until further notice:

1. Setting, building, maintaining, attending or using open fire of any kind, except campfires and charcoal fires within agency approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreation sites and picnic areas or except as otherwise authorized (except for the Virgin River Gorge Campground in Arizona which is under previous restrictions that remain in effect). Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations. In Zion National Park, campfires are not allowed in Watchman and South Campgrounds, but propane or gas stoves are permitted.

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, camp trailer, building, developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least six feet in diameter that is barren or cleared to mineral soil.

3. Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal, state and unincorporated private lands. (Note that these acts are always prohibited on state and federal lands)

4. The cutting, welding or grinding of metal in areas of dry vegetation (federal, state and unincorporated private lands in Washington County, Utah)

All other fire restrictions or necessary exemptions to the restrictions will be handled through local "permits" issued by the responsible agency for that purpose.

For more information on fire activity in the Color Country Fire Management area, the public can call the Color County Fire Information Hotline at 1-866-447-1283. For more information on fires in Utah visit www.utahfireinfo.gov. For more information on fires across the country, visit www.inciweb.org .