ST. GEORGE —Nature corrected itself in Hurricane on Monday night when a fire ignited by lightning on Hurricane Hill was extinguished by rain.
Battalion Chief Merlin Spendlove with the Hurricane Valley Fire District said he had just walked out of his door when he heard a loud crash. About 10 seconds later, he received a page for a fire on Hurricane Hill.
“We had a lightning strike just (to the) side of the ‘H’ up on the hill,” Spendlove told St. George News. “It probably burned about close to an acre, maybe barely over.”
Spendlove said crews headed up the hill with their bladder bags ready to start working, despite being leery of the active lightning and thunderstorm. But when heavy rains started, crews were called off the mountain and instead watched the fire from the Hurricane Community Center.
He said the rain appeared to put out the fire, and crews were sent back up Tuesday morning to confirm and map the damage.
“Everything is cold — the rains did well,” Spendlove said. “We got rains for about an hour and a half.”
Spendlove warned the community that the fire season is very active and residents should not take unnecessary risks such as burning weeds or grinding things near dry areas.
“Use common sense when you’re outside,” Spendlove said.
Photo Gallery
Hurricane Hill catches fire after a lightning strike, Hurricane, Utah, July 31, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Layce Lundy, St. George News
Hurricane Hill catches fire after a lightning strike, Hurricane, Utah, July 31, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Layce Lundy, St. George News
Hurricane Hill catches fire after a lightning strike, Hurricane, Utah, July 31, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Layce Lundy, St. George News
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