ST. GEORGE — A blaze that began in the weeds spread to and damaged the exterior of a Hurricane home Saturday afternoon.
Shortly before 3 p.m., the Hurricane Valley Fire District responded to a fire at 3715 W. 165 N., arriving within five minutes and “knocking down the fire” minutes later, Battalion Chief Tyler Ames told St. George News.
After this, crews ensured the fire was out by checking for extension, where a fire could still be burning outside of plain view, Ames said.
“Like if there was a hole on the outside and the heat was able to get into that hole and start burning elsewhere, like in one the trusses,” he added.
While the exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation, Ames said it originated outdoors.
“The homeowner said that the weeds were all dead, and they were about three feet high around the area where (the fire) started,” he said. “So we know that would contribute to it. And then that’s what caused it to have enough fuel to get bigger to start burning the side of the house.”
No injuries were reported.
To reduce fire risk, Ames recommends that residents create fire breaks around their homes by ensuring yards are clean of flammable debris and removing all dead vegetation.
“We use the term ‘defensible space,'” he said. “We don’t really think about that a lot in the urban areas, just because we’re not — we use that term a lot for the mountainous areas. But it’s relevant to homes around the area, where if your weeds or grass are just super unkempt and super tall — that’s just fuel for a fire to get bigger and hotter and damage your property.”
Additionally, Ames said people should take precautions generally as temperatures rise.
“We’ve had a lot of fires lately, unfortunately,” he said. “Especially outside fires. So we’re just always advising everybody to be cautious with those, making sure they’re constantly monitored and that they have a water source with them.”
So far this year, all 14 wildfires reported in Washington County and two in Iron County were human-caused, according to the UT Wildfire Dashboard. To learn more about preventing fires, Southern Utahns can visit the Utah Fire Sense website.
The Hurricane City Police Department also responded to the scene to assist.
This report is based on statements from police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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