Fire crews managing Zion blaze

The lightning-caused Horse fire at Zion National Park remains about 50 percent contained, park officials said Saturday.

Since the fire was first detected July 7, it has burned about 2,100 acres near Lava Point and the northernmost reaches of the park. Fire activity has been largely isolated to eastern portions of Horse Pasture Plateau, where firefighters have completed a buffer zone along eastern portions of the West Rim Trail to help contain the fire in a predetermined management area. The fire was causing no direct threat Saturday.

The park is allowing the fire to burn in the "fire-adapted ecosystem" to garner resource benefits. Most of the burned areas have shown "a light understory burn," with little damage to established trees, park officials said. By allowing the fire to burn, the amount of dead and downed fuel will be reduced allowing native plants to grow more readily.

For visitor safety, the West Rim Trail is closed from Lava Point to the junction with the Telephone Canyon Trail. Imlay Canyon is also closed.

Approximately 60 firefighters have been managing the fire, yet that number is expected to be reduced in coming days.

— Clayton Norlen