ST. GEORGE — Firefighting crews from multiple agencies battled a brush fire in the median of Interstate 15 near Black Ridge on Monday.
Washington County Fire Warden Adam Heyder told St. George News the fire, which started shortly after 11 a.m., was believed to have been the result of a blown vehicle tire.
The blaze burned about one acre of grass and weeds in the center median between the northbound and southbound lanes just north of mile marker 36.
Traffic on I-15 was slowed in both directions as crews attacked the fire from either side, with the leftmost lanes being the ones that were temporarily blocked off.
In addition to directing streams of water from trucks onto the flames, firefighters used shovels and other tools to limit the spread of the fire to about a 200-yard section of steep hillside within the median.
Just before 2 p.m., Heyder reported the fire was out, the scene was clear and the interstate was fully open again with no lane restrictions.
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Scene of a brush fire on Interstate 15 near mile marker 36, Washington County, Utah, Aug. 10, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Scene of a brush fire on Interstate 15 near mile marker 36, Washington County, Utah, Aug. 10, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Scene of a brush fire on Interstate 15 near mile marker 36, Washington County, Utah, Aug. 10, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Scene of a brush fire on Interstate 15 near mile marker 36, Washington County, Utah, Aug. 10, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Scene of a brush fire on Interstate 15 near mile marker 36, Washington County, Utah, Aug. 10, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Scene of a brush fire on Interstate 15 near mile marker 36, Washington County, Utah, Aug. 10, 2020 | Photo courtesy of Michael Lewis, St. George News
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Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.