Fire doubles in size triggering state of emergency in Pine Valley; reward doubled

ST. GEORGE — A state of emergency has been declared as fire activity near Pine Valley continues to increase Tuesday, prompting mandatory evacuations of residents in areas of the Pine Valley community.

As of Tuesday evening, a reward offered for information leading to the conviction of anyone operating a drone in the fire area has doubled.

Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher declared a state of emergency Tuesday as the Saddle Fire, burning 2 miles southwest of the Pine Valley community, has reportedly doubled in size and is estimated to reach 800 acres by Tuesday night. Washington County commissioners ratified the Sheriff’s declaration.

Smoke rises over the hills of Lloyd Canyon Tuesday afternoon. Washington County, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Tyler Truman, St. George News
Smoke rises over the hills of Lloyd Canyon Tuesday afternoon. Washington County, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Tyler Truman, St. George News

After evacuating the Pine Valley Campground and Baker Reservoir, officials began evacuating Lloyd’s Canyon area residents Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to the mandatory evacuations, officials closed all nonmotorized trails leading into the Pine Valley wilderness area along with motorized roads leading to Pine Valley – including the Mahogany Bench Road, Pine Valley Road #035 and the road south of Pinto, Road #011.

High winds, high temperatures, steep slopes and rocky terrain kept firefighters from safely attacking the lightning-caused fire in its early stages as fire crews could not safely fight the blaze on the ground.

Multiple drone intrusions also compromised the safety of aircraft and fire crews and further hampered firefighting efforts. Drone intrusions resulted in air resources being pulled from the fire line Monday allowing for the fire to progress toward Pine Valley, according to Washcosafety.

“They basically lost almost two full, complete days,” Commissioner Zachary Renstrom said. “The Forest Service had the resources there, they had the planes to dump the retardant, they had the helicopters and they couldn’t fly. They weren’t able to go and hit those hot spots like they wanted to, so those hot spots were just allowed to grow, uncontained.”

The Saddle Fire as seen from Santa Clara, Santa Clara, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
The Saddle Fire as seen from Santa Clara, Santa Clara, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the drone operator who interfered in Saddle Fire suppression efforts on Monday.

“Safety and property were compromised, and the Sheriff’s Office will have zero tolerance for the reckless operation of an unmanned aircraft which interferes with fire suppression efforts,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

In an email to St. George News Tuesday evening, Steve Haluska, chairman of the Northwestern Special Service District – which provides fire protection for the towns of Brookside, Central, Gunlock and Veyo – reported that the $1,000 reward had been doubled.

“Our district is on the border of the Saddle Fire,” Haluska said. “Our board has decided to add $1,000 to the reward offered by Washington County for information and conviction of the drone operator.”

Drones being flown in wildfire areas have become such a problem that Utah legislators passed a new law – which took effect in May – making it a misdemeanor to fly unmanned aerial vehicles in a prohibited area, and a felony if a drone collides with firefighting equipment or causes a crash.

There is currently a 5-mile temporary flight restriction zone around the Saddle Fire.

As this report is published, Renstrom said the U.S. Forest Service has more than 1,000 fire personnel working the Saddle Fire.

Anyone with information regarding drones flying in the area of the Saddle Fire is urged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 435-634-5734.

St. George News Reporter Julie Applegate contributed to this report.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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5 Comments

  • .... June 21, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    I hope they catch the RealLowlife that started the fire. with or without the reward

    • Real Life June 22, 2016 at 8:37 am

      Careful Dumpster, or I will have to say something that hurts your feelings, and sends you whining to the editors again.

  • ladybugavenger June 21, 2016 at 10:25 pm

    This is terrible.

    Is $2,000 enough reward money to turn in that person that you know that has a drone and was possibly in that area at the time?

  • knobe June 22, 2016 at 7:55 am

    This was a lightening caused fire from a hit on the 13th ( we had some major lightening in the skies ! ).
    The reward is Not for reporting a fire starter , it IS for whomever is flying drones that interrupt fire aircraft .

  • knobe June 22, 2016 at 7:56 am

    http://www.utahfireinfo.gov

    Utah’s fire website with specific fire info

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