‘Please stay away’: St. George Fire Department douses 4th recent brush fire as season heats up

ST. GEORGE — Fire season is upon us as the St. George Fire Department responded to its fourth significant local brush fire of the week on Saturday afternoon.

The recent blaze burned through nearly two acres of grass and brush on property behind Sportman’s Warehouse in St George. Black and gray smoke could be seen and the scent was noticable from blocks away as both St. George and Washington City Fire personnel responded.

Firefighters and vehicles assembled in the parking lot behind the store. St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker spoke to St. George News and said emergency responders received the call at 2:15 p.m.

“Upon our arrival we did have a large brush fire going out in this vacant field,” Stoker said. “This area, we’ve had several fires over the years.”

The vegetation in the area contains tamarisk, large sagebrush and various other light grasses that act as fuel, he added.

A firefighter works the scene of a brush fire in a vacant lot behind Sportsman’s Warehouse, St. George, Utah, May 13, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Firefighters dragged hoses from engines in the parking lot, joined by another engine up on the ridge behind Albertsons. That apparatus could be seen spewing a steady stream of water down into the smoldering ravine beneath.

Stoker said the fire was quickly contained and did not damage any structures. No injuries were reported as well. 

Luckily so, Stoker stated, as emergency personnel were initially hampered getting to the scene because of traffic caused by curious onlookers.

“We had a lot of people,” he said. “We get these larger fires with these smoke plumes, it attracts people like crazy. Again, we plead with our public to please stay away from these areas and let us get in and allow us to do our work.”

Fortunately, fire personnel had several hydrants in the area to draw from. Five-inch hoses were scattered throughout the scene connected to hydrants on E 850 North St.

“Once we had our hose lines across the road from the fire hydrants, we had cars driving over those,” Stoker said of the chaos. “The problem with that is, those will damage the hose and if it breaks that hose it damages that water supply, then the crews that are fighting that fire don’t have water.” 

Interference with fire hoses is a ticket-able offense and citations will be issued for the cost of the damaged hose. Full length five-inch hoses are $1,200 apiece, he warned.

A fire engine blasts water at the scene of a brush fire in a vacant lot behind Sportsman’s Warehouse, St. George, Utah, May 13, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

“Not only will you receive a fine for that offense but you’ll also pay the cost of recovery for that,” Stoker said. “Again, please stay out of the area and let us do our work.”

The fire was well contained less than an hour after the call went out. Fire crews remained soaking hotspots and dousing smoldering embers.

Stoker said investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. 

“We do have a lot of foot traffic through this area, which is what we’re looking at for a cause,” he said. “We’re looking for a point of origin and then determine a cause, most likely human caused, as we’ve had in the past in this area.”

Stoker reported that the fire department responded to a brush fire along I-15 earlier Saturday morning, which were likely caused by dragging chains. It was the second freeway fire this week and another big brush fired burned acreage along the Virgin River near Mall Drive Tuesday night.

“As we get into this season where people are recreating, camping and those things, be very cognizant of your open flames, fires, charcoal stoves, those kind of things,” Stoker said. “Heed the restrictions. Just be really careful of those areas as we head into the summer.”

This report is based on statements by emergency personnel and may not include the full scope of the findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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