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Fire restrictions now in effect in 2 Utah national parks

Drought and dry vegetation are creating high fire danger.

Fire restrictions are now in effect in a huge swath of southeastern Utah — including two of Utah’s national parks and two of the state’s national monuments.

Fire danger is considered high because of the prolonged drought, extremely dry vegetation and dangerous weather conditions, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

(Bureau of Land Management) Fire restrictions are now in effect in southeastern Utah.

Affected areas include Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, Natural Bridges and Hovenweep National Monuments and state lands, unincorporated private lands, and BLM Moab and Monticello field office areas in Grand and San Juan counties.

They also include U.S. Forest Service lands in the Moab and Monticello ranger districts of the Manti-La Sal National Forest in Grand and San Juan counties.

The restrictions include:

1. No wood or charcoal campfires anywhere, including designated campgrounds.

2. No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area that is paved, barren or cleared to mineral soil.

3. No metal cutting, welding or grinding activities in areas of dry vegetation.

4. No use of any kind of fireworks, steel tipped/core ammunition, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices, including exploding targets.