Utah’s red rock national parks increase fire restrictions

MOAB, Utah— Southeastern Utah continues to experience hazardous fire conditions due to prolonged drought and extremely dry vegetation. As a result, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument increased fire restrictions on Friday night as follows:

No setting, building, maintaining, attending, or using open fire of any kind is allowed. Use of petroleum and propane-fueled stoves and grills is allowed only in designated backcountry campsites and zones, along the river corridor, and in developed campgrounds and picnic areas cleared of all flammable materials for at least 3 ft. in diameter.

• Do not smoke, except in an enclosed vehicle or in paved areas completely devoid of any nearby vegetation. Cigarette butts must be disposed of in ash trays.

• Do not discharge or use any kind of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices. They are prohibited at all times on all federal public lands.

• Do not grind, cut, or weld any metal in areas of dry vegetation.

• Internal or external combustion engines may only be operated with a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.

For more information about fire restrictions, wildfires, fire prevention, and fuels treatment projects, please visit https://www.utahfireinfo.gov.

As a general practice always fully extinguish campfires, dispose of cigarettes properly, stay on established roads and trails to avoid dry vegetation, and ensure trailer chains don’t drag or create sparks.

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