Lightning strike starts Shivwits Fire

Shivwits fire start on the Shivwits Reservation, before Utah Hill and west of Ivins, July 21, 2012 | Photo by Eduardo Rodriguez, St. George News
Shivwits fire in its early stages evening, taken from Ivins, Utah, evening of July 21, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News

IVINS – A lightning-started fire on the Shivwits Reservation west of Ivins was reported to Color Country Interagency Fire Responders at 6:57 p.m. today.

At 8:20 p.m. the fire is estimated to be 10 acres in size.

Color Country’s manager, Bill Roach, said that response teams currently include two engines and multiple volunteers. He said they are using the road to the OMG Apex Plant, a chemical plant that closed in 2002, for access.

“We’ve had fires out there in the past,” Roach said. (One notable fire was the Shivwits Fire in June 2011.) “There are concerns about sacred lands and artifacts, so we have to tread lightly with tribal leaders.”

There are also residences on the reservation, although there are no evacuations in place or anticipated in the immediate.

Roach said, “were waiting see what the weather does to it,” as thunderstorms are looming in the area.

There are no road closures at this time.

Shivwits fire in its early stages evening, taken from Ivins, Utah, evening of July 21, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News

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Copyright 2012 St. George News. 

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