Updated June 13, 2011, 6 a.m.
SHIVWITS INDIAN RESERVATION – A human-caused fire that burned over 1,100 acres is now 75 percent contained with authorities expecting it to be 100 percent contained by this evening.
The fire began when the spark from a cutting saw caught the grass on fire. One out-building was damaged and the Indian Reservation was evacuated until Friday evening.
It took four engines, two fuel crews, two other crews, one helicopter and three helitack squads to control the fire, which was fueled by grass, brush, pinyon and Juniper trees.
Resources and staff fighting the fire include Bureau of Indian Affairs Southern Paiute Agency, BLM Arizona Strip, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, & State Lands, and Color Country Districts.
There were no reported injuries.
was it really 110,000 acres? i hope not.
Seriously, when I hear Shivwitz Rez, I think of the small grouping of homes and the tribe’s community center. I know it covers more land than that, but please do tell, was that group of homes and buildings saved? Did any of the reservation family homes go down? How are the people on the reservation doing? I used to work with these people and am worried about them and I have no one I can contact to find out what’s happening.
Seriously…110,000 acres…big mistake.
Mistakes happen. Thanks for pointing it out. It is now fixed