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ST. GEORGE — Multiple agencies are responding to a structure fire by Red Hills Parkway near 1400 East, St. George police say.
Residents reported seeing thick black smoke billowing in the area shortly before 2 p.m. St. George police officer Tiffany Mitchell said the smoke was visible about anywhere in the city.
Investigators said the fire started outside a pool supply building and eventually spread to the building, damaging jacuzzis, hot tubs and several pallets. The thick smoke is likely the result of the plastic, fiberglass and other materials the hot tubs are made of.
The fire is contained, but one firefighter was taken to the hospital due to heat-related medical concerns.
Details about how the fire began were not disclosed. Businesses in the area were evacuated, Mitchell said in a video posted on the St. George Police Facebook account.
She also pleaded for people to avoid the area, so firefighters can do their job. The agency is asking residents to avoid Red Hills Parkway from 1000 East to Gateway Drive.
"For the love of all things holy, we need you to stay away from here," she said. "We have people stopped on the freeway over here — it's very dangerous for everybody involved. ... It's a chaotic scene as it is and to have everyone come down to and try to get a look at smoke, it's too much."
