Mile Marker 25, Interstate 15 Fire Update, June 25, 2021
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
Summary: At 5:30pm June 24, 2021, the Color Country Interagency Communication Center received a report of a wildland fire start. Local resources are on scene and aerial resources are currently being used. Smoke can be seen from St. George, Utah.
Start Date: June 24, 2021
Location: Mile marker 25, Virgin River Gorge
Jurisdiction: Arizona Strip District, Bureau of Land Management
Fire Size: Estimated at 948 acres. (Note: one acre is equivalent to one football field).
Cause: Under investigation
Closures: Arizona Department of Transportation will conduct a lane closure from 7am to 6pm on the right lane for north bound traffic to assist with firefighter safety and allow resources access to better manage the fire. Signs are in place to help direct traffic. We appreciate the public’s assistance and patience in maintaining firefighter safety through this incident.
Fuels: Grass, brush
Structures: None
Containment: 0
Fire Crews/Resources: Local resources on scene include 9 engines from federal agencies including BLM Arizona and BLM Utah, BIA, USFS, and 2 cooperator engines from Beaver Dam, Arizona, and Lincoln County, Nevada, 1 Hot Shot Crew, 2 Hand Crews, 2 Water Tenders, 1 Helitack crew, 1 Air Attack, 2 Heavy Air Tankers and 4 SEATs.
Conditions: Gusty and erratic afternoon and evening winds June 24 created issues with containment. The fire burned actively through the night and picked up intensity in the early morning. Resources are going direct utilizing aerial resources with retardant and hand crews.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.