The bushfire spreads; Hurricane firefighters remind residents of 'defensible space' – St George News

ST. GEORGE – A fire that started in the weeds spread 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 “putting out the fire” a few minutes later, Battalion Chief Tyler Ames said at St. George News.

After that, crews made sure the fire was out by checking the extension, where a fire could still be burning out of view, Ames said.

“Like there's a hole outside and the heat can get into that hole and start burning somewhere else, like one of the farms,” ​​he added.

Although the exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation, Ames said it occurred outside.

“The homeowner said the weeds were all dead and about a meter tall around the area where (the fire) started,” he said. “So we know that would contribute to that. And that's what allowed it to have enough fuel to get bigger and start burning down the side of the house.

No injuries were reported.

To reduce fire risks, Ames recommends residents create firebreaks around their homes by ensuring yards are free of flammable debris and removing any dead vegetation.

“We use the term ‘defensible space,’” he said. “We don't think about it a lot in urban areas, just because we don't – we use that term a lot for mountainous areas. But this is relevant to area homes, where if your weeds or grass are just very unkempt and very tall, it just fuels a fire that gets bigger and hotter and damages your property.

Additionally, Ames said people should generally take precautions as temperatures rise.

“Unfortunately, we've had a lot of fires lately,” he said. “Especially fires outside. So we always advise everyone to be careful with these, make sure they are constantly monitored and have a source of water 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 fire prevention, 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 stakeholders and may not contain the complete findings.

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