Second wildfire reported in Arizona Strip wilderness
A Bureau of Land Management team is managing two wildfires on the Arizona Strip, the agency said Tuesday.
The first fire, in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, is about 30 miles southwest of St. George, Utah — or about 100 miles northeast of Las Vegas — in the Pauite Wilderness, according to a news release. It was discovered about 4 p.m. Monday.
Lightning caused the 20-acre blaze, which has been named the Sand Cove fire.
A fixed wing aircraft, a Type 3 helicopter and two engines were used on the fire, BLM said.
“The fire is being managed to sustain the health and viability of the landscape to achieve the goals approved in the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument Resource Management Plan,” said Mark Rosenthal, BLM Arizona Strip Fire Management Officer.
The second fire, dubbed the Wolf Hole fire, is about 10 miles south of St. George near Hodgets Canyon. It was also caused by lightning, is about 5 acres in size and is “torching and spotting,” the BLM wrote in a release Tuesday evening.
A Type 3 helicopter and four single-engine air tankers have been called to extinguish the blaze.
“Due to high winds and fire activity, including torching and spotting, the fire is being suppressed due to its location and concerns for potential impacts on the Mohave Desert,” Rosenthal said. Smoke is visible from St. George.
There are no road or trail closures in the areas of the fires, but public access may be restricted to ensure public safety. The public should be careful when traveling in the area, the release said.
“Fire managers remind the public to use caution with campfires as we enter a period of hot, dry weather,” the release said.
Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma.
