BLM Arizona Strip District issues emergency closure order for south House Rock Valley

ST. GEORGE, UT — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona Strip District has temporarily closed BLM-managed public lands for public and firefighter safety, and to allow fire suppression crews to continue to safely respond to the Dragon Bravo Fire. Due to the extreme fire conditions and activity currently in this area and in the interest of public safety, the areas that will be temporarily closed until the end of the current fire emergency include all BLM Lands south of Hwy. 89A, north and east of the Kaibab National Forest and south of the main stem of Soap Creek and north and west of Grand Canyon National Park.  

This closure applies only to BLM-administered lands in the Arizona Strip District and will be in effect on July 29, 2025, at 12:01 AM, for the purpose of protecting the public and shall stay in effect until rescinded.  

The closure also applies to special recreation permit holders who are authorized to conduct activities on BLM land. This closure follows provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701) and 43 CFR 9212.0-6 and 43 CFR 9212.1-4. The penalties of this Fire Prevention Order are provided in 43 CFR 9212.4. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the regulations at 9212.1 of this title shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment of not more than 12 months or both. Members of the public may not enter closed areas, and all uses — including hiking, mining, hunting and dispersed camping — are prohibited. 

Persons exempt from the closure and that are allowed in the closed area without written permission include the following:  emergency vehicles, equipment and personnel, government employees acting in the performance of their duties, grazing permittees in the performance of permitted acts, utility companies and other right of way holder employees acting in the performance of their duties, mineral material operators and employees, private landowners shall be allowed access to their private property across BLM lands, on established roads. Deviation from the shortest, most direct travel route to their property will be considered a violation of the closure and may be subject to the penalties as described in 43 CFR 9212.4. Excluded in this closure is the Hatch Airstrip and access road. 

Due to the extreme danger of the Dragon Bravo Fire and in the interest of public safety this closure shall be implemented immediately to protect human life. 

The Arizona Strip District Fire Management Officer and District Manager will make the determination as to when the closure will be rescinded based on public safety.