SOUTHERN UTAH – Some of the fire restrictions in southwest Utah will be modified effective Thursday, July 26, at 12:01 a.m. The monsoonal moisture has affected some areas more than others in southwest Utah and northwest Arizona. This moisture is allowing fire officials to modify fire restrictions in some areas while in other areas fire restrictions remain unchanged.

Unincorporated Privately Owned and State Owned Lands in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties (Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands)

The ban on all campfires has been modified. Campfires will now be allowed at improved campgrounds and picnic areas in facilities provided for campfires  as well as permanently improved places of habitation only. Campfires in unimproved or dispersed areas or as otherwise posted are prohibited.

The following remain prohibited:

• Smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed recreation site or cleared areas of a minimum of three feet in diameter down to mineral soil.

• Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices.

• The use of any steel jacketed or steel core ammunition of any caliber.

• Use of exploding targets that are detonated when struck by a projectile such as a bullet.

• Operating any motorcycle, all-terrain vehicles, chainsaw or other type of small engines without an approved properly functioning spark arrester.

These changes and restrictions do not apply to incorporated towns and cities. Please contact the local fire agency for any restrictions that may apply.

Dixie National Forest

The Stage II fire restrictions have been lifted on Forest Service lands including the ban on campfires at developed sites, the shutdown on chainsaw and other internal combustion engines (except motor vehicles), blasting, welding and other open flame activities between the hours of 1 p.m. and 1 a.m., as well as the one hour fire watch requirements.

The following acts are currently prohibited on the Dixie National Forest and all national forests in Utah:

• Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire outside a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area, (agency approved fire pits and grills provided in developed recreation sites and picnic areas).

• Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle or building unless stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials.

Forest visitors are now allowed to have campfires or charcoal fires in developed campgrounds in provided fire pits and grills and operate chainsaws or other mechanized equipment any time of the day without the need for patrol following the activity.

Campfires are still prohibited outside of developed areas until further notice. Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.

Note that discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.

The National Park Service including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pipe Spring National Monument, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Restrictions have been modified to allow campfires and charcoal fires in developed campgrounds and designated picnic areas.

With the following exceptions:

• Watchman Campground and South Campground in Zion National Park which will remain closed to campfires and charcoal fires due to the abundance of highly flammable cheat grass.

• Campfires and charcoal fires will continue to be allowed in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area below the high waterline in areas devoid of vegetation.

The following acts are currently prohibited on National Park Service Lands:

• Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire outside a fire structure that is provided by the National Park Service within a designated area, (agency approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreation sites and picnic areas).  Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.

• Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle or building unless stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials.

Note that discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.

Bureau of Land Management: Color Country District-Utah and Arizona Strip District

The Districts have elected not to modify any of the current fire restrictions.