ST. GEORGE — Authorities say a human-caused fire that burned through several acres in the town of Paragonah on Monday destroyed one home and six other structures, as air tankers and firefighters battled the blaze for hours.
At 4:20 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to a brush fire reported off 100 South in Paragonah, a town in Iron County with a population of just over 500 residents.
The fire burned through 15 acres fueled by dry grass and brush. Air operations were initiated, and less than an hour later air tankers began dropping retardant on the flames that continued to burn in close proximaty to homes and other structures.
See the video footage courtesy of Corey McNeil at the top of this report.
Authorities determined that the fire was started by equipment that caught the dry grass on fire and then began to spread.
No injuries or evacuations were reported. Mike Melton, area fire management officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said that according to the final report, one home and six outbuildings were destroyed in the blaze, while 30 other homes were also threatened.
The fire was extinguished using 11 engines, three water tenders, one bulldozer and two single-engine air tankers.
Agencies that assisted in firefighting efforts included the Cedar City, Parawan, Paragonah and Brian Head fire departments; Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands; the Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Forest Service; Iron County Sheriff’s Department; and the Parowan Police Department.
This report is based on statements from police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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A tanker dumps retardant on fire burning in Paragonah Monday afternoon, Iron County, Utah, July 22, 2019 | Photo captured from video submitted by Corey McNeil, Cedar city News, St. George News A brush fire in Paragonah destroys a home and six other structures, Iron County, Utah, Jul. 22, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Mike Melton, Cedar city News, St. George News A brush fire burns through 15 acres in Paragonah Monday afternoon destroying a home and six other structures, Iron County, Utah, Jul. 22, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Mike Melton, Cedar city News, St. George News A brush fire burns through 15 acres in Paragonah Monday afternoon destroying a home and six other structures, Iron County, Utah, Jul. 22, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Mike Melton, Cedar city News, St. George News
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