Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Crews are now battling a third active wildfire in Southern Utah. The Black Mountain Fire ignited Thursday afternoon two miles south of Minersville, and officials estimate it is at least 4,000 acres.

Firefighters have been battling the West Valley Fire on Pine Valley Mountain and Dry Canyon Fire near Parowan since Wednesday.

All three blazes were growing as firefighters from across Utah and beyond tried to contain them.

As of Thursday afternoon, crews achieved 30 percent containment on the Dry Canyon Fire. The West Valley Fire, which exceeds 2,500 acres, remains at zero percent containment.

The Black Mountain Fire was caused by a vehicle accident, according to a news release. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the West Valley or Dry Canyon Fires.

Unfortunate weather conditions like high temperatures, lower relative humidity and high winds are expected to impact the growth of the fires throughout the day, according to Bode Mecham, a representative for the Dixie National Forest and public information officer for the West Valley Fire.

"We're unfortunately expected to have red flag warnings today for those conditions to move into the area," Mecham said. "All of those conditions work in favor of the fire."

Black Mountain Fire estimated at 4,000 acres

Described as a "fast-moving" wildfire, the Black Mountain Fire is threatening town structures in Minersville, a community approximately 25 miles north of Cedar City.

According to a Twitter account run by local fire officials, the Black Mountain Fire is estimated to be as large as 4,000 acres. It is currently the largest active wild fire in Southern Utah.

As of Thursday evening, the Black Mountain Fire was at zero percent containment, and it was caused by a vehicle accident.

Officials have also confirmed Highway 130 is currently closed, and its closure will be re-evaluated in the morning.

West Valley Fire exceeds 2,500 acres

Wind conditions have caused fire crews to ground all aerial fire-fighting efforts in the West valley Fire.

Although crews have not yet conducted a GPS flight over the West Valley Fire, Mecham said the fire has estimated to have grown nearly 500 acres overnight and even more by late Thursday afternoon — with estimates now exceeding 2,500 acres.

"We know it's a lot bigger than 2,500 acres, but without flying an aircraft to survey it, we don't know exactly how much it's grown," Mecham said.

Crews were dispatched to the wildfire around 3 p.m. on Wednesday. As of 7 p.m. that night, the GPS flight clocked the area of the fire at 2,000 acres.

"We know the fire burned actively all night, and it's growing," Mecham said.

No structures have been lost, Mecham said, and the closest structure to the fire is approximately 3-5 miles away. He said he's unsure the fire will threaten those structures, but eight fire engines are assigned specifically to look out and prepare for it.

Mecham said around 10 homes in the Grass Valley area of Pine Valley Mountain are the closest structures to the fire. He said he believes those structures are a mix of both cabins and full-time residential homes.

No evacuations have been issued at this time; however, Mecham said area closures are in effect.

As of Thursday, Mecham said law enforcement officials and fire investigators had not yet determined the origin of the fire.

"It might take a while for that to get back," Mecham said. "This fire is deep in the wilderness — it's a long hike in. I know it is currently being investigated, though."

Mecham said on Wednesday, eight smoke jumpers parachuted into the area to battle the blaze. In addition, a hot-shot hand crew and three heavy air tankers are working to contain the fire.

Dry Canyon Fire now 30 acres

Nick Howell, a Bureau of Land Management public information officer, said the Dry Canyon Fire is currently being mapped via GPS, and authorities will have a more accurate acreage in the next few hours.

It's currently estimated to have grown from 5 acres to 30 acres in just under 24 hours.

Unlike the West Valley Fire, Howell said they expect the Dry Canyon Fire to be much more contained by the afternoon.

"We're making really good progress, and the hand crews are moving pretty fast," Howell said. "If we can make it through this wind, we will have better containment today."

Although it's "super windy" in that area, according to Howell, he said authorities are optimistic about the Dry Canyon Fire because it's fairly accessible.

No structures have been threatened by the Dry Canyon Fire, Howell said. The closest structures would be in the community of Parowan.

Highway 143 has remained open, but Howell cautioned a closure could be implemented with little or no notice if the fire flares back up.

Howell said authorities have not determined the cause of the Dry Canyon Fire. However, he cautions Southern Utah residents to be mindful of their actions outdoors.

"I don't think people realize how dry it is right now," Howell said. "Any activity that could produce a spark could produce a devastating wildfire."

What you should know about fire, drone restrictions

Mecham said fire restrictions are currently in place in Southern Utah, meaning no one can build any type of fire.

"We've been having a lot of trouble with people here in Dixie who are still building fires," he said.

To clarify, according to Howell, fires are permitted inside an official campground; however, fires created outside of a formal campground are prohibited.

The penalties for disobeying the fire restrictions range anywhere from $250 up to a mandatory appearance in court, according to Mecham.

Mecham said authorities are instructing resident to "leave their drones at home."

"You cannot fly a drone over a wild fire," he said. "We don't want to have an aerial collision or a crash. We haven't had any issues so far, but when those drones come in, we have to shut down all our aviation assets."

The aircrafts that fly above a fire typically do so at low altitudes and high speeds, Mecham said, and he recalled several issues in the past with individuals flying drones over other notable Southern Utah fires in recent years like the Saddle Fire.

Howell said there have been several trends in the area in terms of unwanted human-caused fires.

"We still have a lot of abandoned human-caused fires, and it gets windy and a fire starts," Howell said. "We have a lot of problems along the highways with folks who have maintenance issues like dragging chains and tire blow outs. Another one that's prevalent over the last five years has been the cutting, grinding and welding of metal in dry areas."

This is a developing story, and The Spectrum & Daily News will update this article with information as it becomes available.

Follow reporter Emily Havens on Twitter, @EmilyJHavens, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/emilyjhavens. Call her at 435-674-6214 or email her at [email protected].

SOUTHERN UTAH — Now that spring is in the air, many in Southern Utah are angling for their chance to hit their favorite fishing hole. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources recently released its spring fishing report to give anglers information regarding ice, water levels and new restrictions.

Anglers should note that regulations returned to standard at Minersville Reservoir. This means only artificial flies and lures may be used and only one trout over 22 inches may be kept. These restrictions also forbid the use of scented or salted soft plastics.

“We lift the restrictions and double the limits during drought years to avoid a massive die-off due to low water levels,” said Richard Hepworth, aquatics manager at Utah DWR.

Navajo Lake is still recovering from a 2021 treatment of rotenone to remove invasive fish, Hepworth told St. George News. Future fish to be stocked include rainbow trout, tiger trout, splake trout and tiger muskie. The staff hopes multiple predator fish will help prevent Utah chub from regaining dominance in the lake.

Typically, spring provides some of the most exciting fishing of the year for largemouth bass in Washington County reservoirs, said Hepworth. This spring will be “interesting” for fishermen who will be vying for fish who aren’t competing for food.

“We had a few years of rough drought and fish trying to survive in little water,” he said. “Now we have a year with significant snowpack and rainfall. So there will be plenty of water, and with that comes plenty of food, but not as many fish. So the ones that are there might be hard to catch.”

Check out these fishing tips and reservoir conditions from the Southern Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources experts.

Baker

Ten-inch rainbow trout were stocked in Baker Reservoir last fall. Most anglers fish with popular baits, but flies and lures also work well. Fishing will begin to slow down in late spring as temperatures rise and the reservoir is drawn down for irrigation use.

Duck Creek/Aspen Mirror

Access to Duck Creek Pond is usually good in early to mid-April. Aspen Mirror Lake is typically accessible by early to mid-May. Access to both may be later this year due to the abundant snowpack. Spring fishing can be good to excellent, but expect to see crowds on the weekends.

Enterprise

Due to an abundance of snow and cold temperatures this year, ice-off is projected for the end of March or early April. As the snow melts and the reservoirs fill, you can often expect the water to be murky or muddy. Hungry rainbow trout often provide good to excellent fishing as the water temperature warms and triggers feeding. Smallmouth bass remain sluggish until late spring.

Gunlock

Fishing is often best after multiple days of calm, warm weather. Fish will be fairly inactive for a few days after a storm or cold front. During the early spring, look for bass to begin moving into shallow water during the afternoon on temperate days. Bluegill and black crappie will also be getting more active during the spring and will spawn later than the bass do. Because it’s higher in elevation, spring fishing at Gunlock Reservoir tends to lag a couple weeks behind other reservoirs.

Kolob

Kolob Reservoir is closed to bait fishing until May 20, 2023. Ice comes off around the same time that access opens up — usually in mid-April — although with this year’s snowpack it could be May. Rainbow and tiger trout are abundant.

Minersville

The reservoir is usually ice-free by mid-to-late March. Rainbow trout begin patrolling the shorelines looking for food and a place to spawn as soon as the ice off, providing great fishing throughout April and May. Many anglers fish with nymphs, but streamers, balanced leeches and midge dries can also produce well. Spin anglers catch rainbow trout with marabou jigs, spinners, spoons and unscented plastics. For wipers, use lures and flies that imitate chubs and crayfish.

Navajo Lake

Rainbow and tiger trout will be stocked in May and June providing fishing opportunities for summer to supplement last year’s stocks. There are regulations in place for the tiger muskie; harvest limit is one fish and it must be over 40 inches in length to be kept. Tiger muskies less than 40 inches must be released to keep the chub population in check. Other fish will be stocked in small sizes throughout the year.

Newcastle

Rainbow trout begin patrolling the shorelines looking for food and a place to spawn as soon as the ice comes off. Most popular baits, lures, jigs and flies can produce good fishing. For wipers, use lures and flies that imitate shiners and crayfish. As spring progresses into May, trout feed actively on the surface during mornings and evenings, while moving into deeper water during the day.

Panguitch Lake

Spring brings hungry trout into the shallows to feed along with some of the best fishing of the year. While some anglers think that ice-off fishing only happens while the ice is melting, fishermen can catch fish for up to one month after. Excellent fishing for all trout species with various tackle, the report states. Boat and float tube anglers can also find good success in the spring but remember, a lot of fish are close to shore so anglers should fish in the shallows.

Red Creek

Ice comes off around the same time that access opens up, usually in early-to-mid April. Spring fishing is good to excellent for abundant tiger trout, and you can also catch cutthroat and rainbow trout. Various lures, jigs and flies are effective, while natural baits like nightcrawlers and cut bait — pieces of minnow, chub or sucker — tend to work better than PowerBait.

Pine Valley

Stocking of rainbow trout begins in May. Before that, you can usually catch a few fish that were carried over from the previous year. An occasional tiger trout may be caught, though most of the stocking for this species is done in May and June.

Quail Creek State Park

Trout are caught from both shore and boat using popular trout techniques. Bait, spinners, flies and trolling all produce good results. Spring provides some of the most exciting fishing of the year for largemouth bass at Washington County reservoirs, though fishing is not always consistent. Spring is a time of change for warm-water fish, and they are highly affected by daily weather patterns. Your best guide for spring fishing conditions is the weather forecast. Fishing is often best after multiple days of calm, warm weather.

Sand Hollow Reservoir

During the early spring, look for bass to begin moving into shallow water during the afternoon on temperate days. This activity continues as water warms into the upper 50s. Once the water reaches 60 degrees, the bass get even more active and start spawning. Bluegill and black crappie will also be getting more active during the spring and will spawn a little later than the bass do.

Tushar Mountain

Access to Little Reservoir typically opens in mid-to-late April, followed by Kent’s Lakes in early-to-late May and the highest lakes, LaBaron and Puffer, in late May to mid-June. Heavy snowpack this winter may cause access to these lakes opening even later. Rainbow trout are stocked soon after the lakes are accessible.

Yankee Meadows

Access opens in early-to-mid April — although, due to heavy snowpack, access might not be available until May. Spring fishing is typically good to excellent as trout start actively feeding. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout are abundant.

For the most up-to-date information on reservoir openings and fishing conditions, visit the Utah Department of Wildlife website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

Salt Lake City — In anticipation of low water levels due to drought conditions and repair work that will require one waterbody to be drained, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources issued emergency changes to Utah's fishing regulations on Thursday. These changes will allow anglers to catch and keep more fish at six waterbodies around the state.

Drought impacts fish by reducing the amount of water available in lakes, reservoirs and streams throughout the state. Smaller amounts of water heat up more quickly and warm to higher temperatures, which is problematic for fish species since warm water holds less oxygen than colder water. The combination of high temperatures and low oxygen can stress fish, causing poor growth and disease. Sometimes, these conditions can even be fatal to fish.

These regulation changes are being made as part of a DWR strategy that allows anglers to keep more fish in specific waterbodies. (These are typically lakes and reservoirs with a high likelihood of fish die-offs due to anticipated low water levels.) Similar to last year, the DWR is again strategically determining where fish will be stocked this year, in order to either reduce or eliminate fish from being stocked into waterbodies where it is anticipated that heat and low water levels may impact fish survival.

"The best management action we can take at these waterbodies is to reduce the number of fish in these waters. That's because when water levels are low, we are more likely to maintain a fishery that has fewer fish than one that has a lot of fish," DWR Sportfish Coordinator Randy Oplinger said. "We try, whenever possible, to continue to provide a good fishing experience for anglers, up until we think that water levels will hit a critical level."

Drought-related changes

The following changes are effective immediately and will remain in effect until Sept. 30, 2022. Here are the waterbodies with new increased daily fish limits:

Changes related to infrastructure repairs

Spring Lake is being drained so Payson city officials can make necessary infrastructure repairs. The daily limit was initially increased on Jan. 13 with a targeted end date of March 18. However, because the lake has not yet been drained — and still has catchable fish — the new daily limit was extended until July 11 and is now being extended until Dec. 31, 2022.

Anglers must obey all area closures that may be put in place by the city or construction crews. The pond will be restocked with rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and wiper after city employees complete the repairs and refill the pond with water.

Here is the fishing limit change for Spring Lake:

All the other rules in the Utah Fishing Guidebook regarding Utah waterbodies have not changed and remain in effect.

| Updated: 10:34 p.m.

Fires continued burning in Utah on Thursday — from the border with Idaho to the corner shared with Arizona and Nevada — as firefighters prioritized where to combat the blazes.

A new fire cropped up in the afternoon and quickly ballooned to more than 5,000 acres. The Black Mountain Fire is currently threatening the small southern Utah town of Minersville. It was 15 percent contained by the evening.

But there was good news in eastern Utah. The Fruitland Shed Fire, which burned two homes near the town of Fruitland, was expected to be fully contained before the weekend.

Mike Erickson, a spokesman with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said the blaze had scorched about 20 acres.

“This looks like one of the few they are going to catch and be done with,” Erickson said.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A fire near Fruitland destroyed at least three structures, including at least one home, knocked out power to homes in the area and burned more than 20 acres in western Duchesne County. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire. Thursday, June 28, 2018.

Winds of 30 mph gusted over southwest Utah’s Washington County, where the West Valley Fire is burning. It was threatening 10 homes and spread to 7,200 acres Thursday night.

It is sizzling on the national forest in the Pine Valley Mountains, too, about 3 miles from houses in the town of Pine Valley. A news release Thursday morning from the team fighting the blaze said it had grown overnight to 2,500 acres.

In northern Utah, between the towns of Plymouth and Portage, the Rough Canyon Fire had burned 3,144 acres as of Thursday afternoon. Forestry, Fire and State Lands tweeted that firefighters are protecting structures in the area.

Rough Canyon Fire pic.twitter.com/IaDacqloq0

— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) June 28, 2018

The Black Mountain, Fruitland Shed, West Valley and Rough Canyon fires are all human-caused, respective spokespeople have said, though specific causes have not been disclosed.

Also Thursday morning, a 30-acre fire was burning in Parowan Canyon in southwest Utah. A hotshot crew and fire engines were on the scene of what has been called the Dry Canyon Fire. Firefighters were working to keep open State Road 143. It connects Parowan to Brian Head and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Gov. Gary Herbert, during his monthly news conference, called for Utahns to be cautious amid dry conditions statewide.

“Most of the fires we have seen historically have been man-caused,” he said. “In the dry tinderlike conditions, we don’t want to exacerbate the problem. … Let’s be careful with campfires, let’s be careful with our fireworks. We do have a [fireworks] ban on state lands and incorporated parts of counties.”

He also called for local communities to carefully decide which areas could safely allow fireworks. “Most of it comes down to common sense.”

Reporters Lee Davidson and Courtney Tanner contributed to this report.

ST. GEORGE — A truck careened over a steep cliff Monday night around 8 p.m. in the Shauntie Mountain Range, seriously injuring a Minersville driver and posing a challenge to rescuers to find the vehicle.

Some 30 Beaver County Search and Rescue volunteers searched until the wee hours of Tuesday morning before locating the vehicle, driver and passenger. The passenger was not in the truck when it went over the cliff. He was on the mountain top, according to Search and Rescue officials.

“The truck went off a cliff that is very, very steep,” said Les Whitney, director of emergency services for Beaver County. “The truck went down the hill on its wheels until it hit a tree and then flipped … over onto its top.”

Authorities said the 60-year-old man who was driving the white Dodge truck with a camper shell had broken ribs and clavicle, internal bleeding and head injuries. He was airlifted by Classic Air from Page, Arizona, to St. George Regional Hospital.

“The guy is very lucky,” Whitney said. “And thank God for our good first responders and people that come to help.”

The Sheriff’s Office said the man was trying to get his truck unstuck when his truck rolled off the cliff.

But in terms of those who come out to help search in incidents such as this, Whitney also said it’s important for citizens to remember they must check in with the command post once they arrive. Otherwise, it’s like “herding cats” when people are not coordinated with the Search and Rescue team.

The male passenger from Milford who was not inside the truck at the time of the incident was able to call for help on his cell phone. Since the passenger was unable to clearly state their exact location, locating the pair took Search and Rescue from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m to complete. And they found the pair by calling out and following the sound of their voices, he said.

“I couldn’t ask for a better group of people out of all those agencies that are willing to donate their time and volunteer,” Les said.

Agencies responding include Beaver County Fire District number two, Beaver County Search and Rescue, Milford/Minersville Ambulance service and Classic Air.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.