NEW HARMONY – An Arizona firetruck traveling north on Interstate 15 in Washington County came across a brush fire on the side of the freeway Saturday evening. Interrupting their journey, the out-of-state good Samaritans pulled over, contained and extinguished the fire and then waited for local responders to arrive before hitting the road again.
Reports of the fire came into Color Country Dispatch just before 6 p.m., Cedar City fireman Nick Howell said. In all, he said, about a half-acre burned before the fire was doused by the friendly neighbors from Arizona.
Kanarraville Fire Department, Hurricane Valley Fire District and the Iron County fire marshal responded to the scene near milepost 33 on northbound I-15.
The Arizona firefighters were most likely on their way to Washington or Idaho to help with fires that are blazing through the northwest territory of the country, Howell said.
While at this time of year the risk of a wildfire spreading dangerously is usually staggeringly high, Howell said, this year, Southern Utah has been fortunate to have a lot of recent storms to help keep the ground moist.
“While the heat index is usually around 80 to 100 percent – sometimes even 110 percent by now – this year, it’s like 60 percent,” Howell said. “Not nearly as dry as usual.”
The whole fire was out before any local reinforcements even made it to the scene, he said.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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