+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | Zion National    |   | Springdale, Utah  |
|                            | Park             |   | 84767             |
| U.S. Department of the     |                  |   |                   |
| Interior                   | Use the complete |   | 435 772-3256      |
|                            | site name here   |   | phone             |
|                            | (e.g. Palo Alto  |   |                   |
|                            | Battlefield      |   | 435 772-3426 fax  |
|                            | Historic Site).  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | www.nps.gov/zion  |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

**Zion National Park** News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

July 19, 2007

For Immediate Release

David Eaker 435 772-7811

07-19

### Wildland Fires in Zion Continue to Grow

### Backcountry Remains Closed 

The Dakota Hill Fire Complex showed moderate activity today. The fires
continue to spread to the north and east. The east fire crossed Zion
National Park's eastern boundary last night onto private and Bureau of
Land Management lands. Originally called the Zion 1, 2 and 3 fires, they
are now being called the east and west fires, since last night the Zion
1 and 2 fires burned together. The east fire, located north of
Orderville Canyon, is being estimated at 1,567 acres and the west fire,
located south of Lava Point, at 5,776 acres. This includes total
acreage, both in and outside of the park. Both of these lightning caused
fires are in remote areas with difficult access. A Type 2 Incident
Management Team from the southwest will take over management of the fire
tomorrow morning from the local Type 3 team.

Kane County has issued a **Mandatory Evacuation Order** for the North
Fork Road area, east of the park. For more on evacuation information
call 435-644-2667.

A backcountry closure remains in effect for all of Zion National Park
until further notice. No permits for canyoneering or backcountry use are
being issued at this time.

Smoke will continue to be an issue in the park and surrounding area,
especially in the evening and early morning hours as it settles into the
basins and canyons.

A new fire was discovered today in the park. The **Beehive Fire** is
located on an isolated mesa top near the Streaked Wall, above Zion
Canyon. It is a holdover from the same storm on Sunday evening that
ignited the others now burning in the park. It is currently being worked
with aerial resources. No estimation of size yet, although the mesa top
covers about 40 acres. At this time there is little potential for the
fire to impact anything other than the mesa top. Zion firefighting
personnel are standing by to respond if the fire falls off the mesa top
into the canyons below.

-NPS-