6/6/2022 Redrock Roundup: 5 Southern Utah stories you missed

ST. GEORGE — Fire and water remain Southern Utah’s two biggest issues during the summer months. Check out these stories about fires, restrictions, and water rights in the desert.

1. 20-acre fire near Toquerville 50% contained

Fire officials say the fire was human-caused, and so far has not damaged any structures or caused any injuries. More updates about the ongoing can be found on Utah Fire Info.

Read more about the fire from Alysha Lundgren with St. George News: https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2022/06/05/agl-firefighters-battle-20-acre-wildfire-near-toquerville-falls/#.Yp4umvPMIWo

2. Moab fire destroys several homes

A fire at the Pack Creek campground in Moab destroyed five homes and damaged five more. Several people were treated for heat and smoke related illness. The park was evacuated, and the cause of the fire in under investigation.

Read the full story from Fox 13 News: https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/fire-destroys-several-homes-at-moab-mobile-home-park

3. Fire restrictions in effect across Southern Utah

Utah is facing another summer of extreme heat and drought, and fire risk is high. Most of Utah’s wildfires are human caused. Utah has once again put in place fire restrictions to help prevent wildfires. As of June 2, the following restrictions apply to all Bureau of Land Management lands in Washington, Iron, Kane, Garfield, Grand, and San Juan counties.

The restrictions include:

No campfires except in permanently constructed fire pits in developed campgrounds and picnic areas.
No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle, covered areas, developed recreation site or while stopped in a cleared area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren with no flammable vegetation.
No non-commercial use/discharge of explosives of any kind, incendiary or chemical devices, pyrotechnic devices, exploding targets, pressurized containers or canisters, and binary explosives.
No fireworks.
No grinding, cutting, and welding of metal.
No operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed.

Violators could face up to a $1000 fine as well as fire suppression and rehabilitation costs. For the full list of restrictions, see the BLM website.

4. Two killed in tour bus collision near Zion National Park

A tour bus T-boned an SUV on SR-9 near Virgin, Utah. A man and woman died at the scene, and two children in the back were injured and taken to the hospital. Several people in the tour bus received minor injuries.

Read the full story from Spencer Burt with Fox 13: https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/2-people-killed-in-crash-with-tour-bus-near-zion-national-park

5. Some parts of Navajo Nation could still be years from water security

After a recent settlement secured water rights for the Navajo Nation, some residents are worried that water security could still be far away. ABC 4 reports that nearly half of the residents lack water infrastructure to their properties.

Read the full story from Jordan Verdadeiro with ABC 4: https://www.abc4.com/news/navajo-nation-residents-worry-water-security-is-still-years-away/