Crews contain wildfire in Zion National Park; traffic returns to normal

UPDATE: Traffic on Kolob Terrace Road has returned to normal after crews successfully contained the approximately 17-acre Kolob Upper Fire.

“Traffic had been guided by a pilot car to allow space on the road for wildland firefighters to work,” read a Saturday afternoon press release from Zion National Park.

Jeff Bradybaugh, superintendent of Zion National Park, said, “We offer our thanks to the many partners who responded along with National Park Service wildland firefighters. Even though we believe this fire was caused by lightning, we’re counting on members of the public to take precautions to prevent wildfires in Zion or elsewhere during their travel.”

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ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah — A brush fire has grown to 20-25 acres on both sides of Kolob Terrace Road, according to Washington County officials.

According to Johnathon Schafer with the National Park Service, the fire is within Zion National Park near Maloney Hill on Kolob Terrace Road, about 15 miles north of state Route 9.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crews from Zion National Park, Rocky Mountain Power, Hurricane and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the fire, along with multiple air resources.

Kolob Terrace Rd. is closed from State Rt. 9 to Lava Point due to wildfire at Maloney Hill. Firefighters from NPS and partners are responding.

Zion-Canyon Scenic Drive and Zion-Mount Carmel Highway are open/not affected.

— Zion National Park (@ZionNPS) July 21, 2022

By 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Washington County reported a combination of ground work, air operations and cooperative weather, the fire activity has calmed a little bit, but is “still active.”

A Facebook post from the city described how to travel around it: “If you are looking to leave Kolob you will need to take Kolob Terrace Rd North to Right Hand Canyon Rd towards Iron County. If you are south of Under Canvas you will need to take Kolob Terrance Rd back into Virgin.”