Fires flare Tuesday as lightning storms over Zion, southern Utah

Lightning storms moving across southern Utah have sparked numerous fires burning today.

Several small fires have been reported in Zion National Park, resulting in a series of trail closures. Park rangers closed the West Rim Trail, the East Mesa Trail, Orderville Canyon and the Narrows above the canyon junction, and Mystery Canyon.

The largest fire burning in Zion National Park is more than 200 acres, the others only a few acres.

"At this time, five fires have been confirmed in the park and other smokes reported, but unconfirmed," Zion National Park ranger David Eaker said in a statement.

Firefighters said resources have been stretched thin with so many fires burning in southern Utah. Elsewhere in the state:

• The Powerline Fire, which knocked out electricity to all of Washington County on Monday night, is 10 percent contained now. The lightning sparked fire has burned 900 acres near Veyo.

• The Gorge Fire is burning an estimated 200 acres about 15 miles southwest of St. George.

• The Antelope Springs Fire is now burning about 200 acres 15 miles northwest of Cedar City.

• The Bumblebee Fire is now 100 percent contained. It burned about 60 acres and threatened homes near Kanarraville.

• The Low Mountain Fire torched 15 acres, but is now 100 percent contained.

• The Black Rock Gulch Fire is 100 percent contained. It burned 22,443 acres of land about 20 miles southwest of St. George.

• The Greenville Bench Fire, a BLM prescribed burn that jumped its lines, is now 100 percent contained. It torched 14,600 acres of land about six miles southwest of Beaver.

• The Pine Creek Fire is burning 128-acres of land northeast of Grouse Creek, in Box Elder County. Firefighters said Tuesday it is 95 percent contained.

• The Beke Fire was ignited Monday night by lightning near Grouse Creek. It has burned nearly 700 acres but is expected to be contained today. Fire officials said rainstorms and firefighters from Nevada and Idaho have helped.

• The Milford Flat Fire, Utah's largest wildfire ever, is 100 percent contained now. It has burned 363,052 acres of land in central Utah.

• The Neola North Fire is 89 percent contained today. The fire burned more than 43,000 acres of land in eastern Utah. The cause of that fire is under investigation.

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