2,800 acre fire planned for Zion National Park

Officials at Zion National Park are planning a 2,800-acre burn near the parks' northern boundary meant to reduce the risks of future fires, officials said.

The Pocket Mesa burn is planned for the week of Oct. 4, but its actual start will depend on the weather and the number of firefighting resources available. It will run near the Kolob Terrace road, but park officials are expecting "nothing major" in terms of closures, said the National Parks Service's David Eaker.

"It'll just be short road delays or one trail that's closed for a day, things like that," Eaker said.

He said the burn will be hand-ignited and will most likely last 6-7 days. He said this burn is meant to reduce the potential for future fires and protect privately owned lands in the area by eliminating fire fuels that may have built up in the area. It is also part of allowing fire to play its "natural role in the ecosystem."

The fire will be monitored by firefighters daily until they are certain the burn is complete and the fire is entirely extinguished.

— Emiley Morgan