ST. GEORGE — A fire burning in parts of Bryce Canyon National Park and the Dixie National Forest has grown in size and reached an area where firefighters can now access it.

Originally reported at 42 acres last week, the Riggs Fire has grown to 306 acres as of Monday, according to a Tuesday press release from the Color Country Interagency Fire group.

Due to the fire burning in a remote area with poor access and safety zones for firefighters, fire managers have allowed the fire to continue burning for the ecological benefit of the area.

The fire continues to burn in a moderate manner that is clearing old dead and woody biomass from the forest floor, yet retaining many of the large diameter trees, according to the press release.

As the Riggs Fire has recently burned into an area accessible to firefighters, fire managers have begun to call in additional resources for fire suppression.

“Firefighter and public safety are always our number one priority when fighting fires and we will do everything we can to be successful especially limiting the exposure to our firefighters in rugged areas with few to no safety zones, very poor access, and limited aircraft to support a full suppression operation.” said Angie Bullets, Dixie National Forest supervisor.

Read the full article at St. George News.

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