3 kids playing with cigarette lighter ignite fire west of I-15

Firefighters make quick work of a blaze between I-15 and some condominiums, St. George, Utah, June 4, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Children playing with a cigarette lighter started a brush fire Thursday afternoon between a condominium complex and Interstate 15 in St. George. The fire briefly threatened the condominiums.

Firefighters make quick work of a blaze between an apartment building and I-15. St. George, Utah, June 4, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Firefighters make quick work of a blaze between condominiums and I-15. St. George, Utah, June 4, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

“This one could have easily spread through these trees and over to the building and put some people out of their homes,” St. George Fire Capt. Tyler Talbot said.

Talbot said a Utah Highway Patrol trooper on I-15 noticed smoke coming from a field between the highway and the George Town Square Condominiums, located at 175 S. 1000 East, just after 2 p.m.

When firefighters from Engine 21 arrived, they found a 20-feet-by-80-feet section of dry grass on fire between the buildings and the highway.

The firefighters were able to knock down the fire quickly.

Talbot said three children who live in the apartments admitted to playing with a lighter they found, lighting paper on fire and then dropping it.

“We want to remind people that it’s that time of the year where brush is super dry, and we need to be extra cautious because it could get out of hand,” Talbot said. “So, just be extra cautious during the summer.”

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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