Glen Canyon NRA (Hall's Crossing) Fire....

[Casey]

This is from today's National Park Service report:
Casey Casebeer / (Vice) C-Dory Naknek

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Major Fire Burns Numerous Boats At Marina

A fire that broke out at the Halls Crossing Marina on the night of Thursday, December 18th, destroyed up to 20 vessels, but firefighters were able to save another 130 boats. At least three vessels are known to have sunk. As of midday on Friday, no casualties had been reported, but fire investigators were still checking the burned area. Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting flames coming from covered slips at the marina just before midnight on Thursday. Rangers and concession employees quickly responded via both land and water. Because of the small number of employees present at this time of the year, additional park staff were flown in from other areas to help fight the blaze, including personnel from Natural Bridges NM and from park headquarters in Page. Fire personnel used the Park Service fire boat both to fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out of from their slips in the marina. Other burning vessels were cut loose and pushed away from the slips by firefighters on the docks. The fire was controlled by 3 a.m. “We are saddened by the loss of the boats and other facilities, but commend our NPS staff and everyone else who responded so quickly to this emergency for saving so many other vessels,” said superintendent Stan Austin. “People don’t realize the challenges our staff face in a remote area like Halls Crossing, which is a two-hour drive from Blanding, Utah, and nearly five hours from park headquarters in Page. Without the dedication and expertise of our fire responders, this fire would have been even more devastating.” Although there was extensive damage to the marina facilities, no firefighters were injured. Park Service investigators, along with investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Utah State Fire Marshal’s office, are investigating. [Submitted by Patrick O’Driscoll, Public Affairs Officer]

 

[El and Bill]

Thanks for the message - sad to hear, but it sounds like the NPS responded well to a fire in an isolated location. Halcyon is stored for the winter down at Powell, but fortunately not at Halls.

 

[Pat Anderson]

Wow, what a story. We enjoyed our brief stop at Halls Crossing to gas up and have ice cream. Must be tough on the owners who keep their boats there, not knowing how they fared...

 

[Captains Cat]

Looks like they were able to save quite a few boats. Winters are always hard on Marinas but fires are the worst. HERE'S SOME PICTURES

Charlie

 

[jkidd]

Here's a little bit of an update.

Page, AZ ­

State and federal agencies investigating last weeks fire in a
Utah marina at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area say fewer boats were
destroyed ­ 15, not 20 as originally thought ­ in the late-ni-night blaze. Of
those, three vessels sank, at least one of them in water 200 feet deep.

A total of 153 water craft were docked at the Halls Crossing Marina, about
95 river miles up Lake Powell from Glen Canyon Dam, when the fire broke out
sometime after 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18. The fire destroyed the marinas
dock, charring boat slips and melting part of the roof covering the
dock. A few other boats sustained minor damage, but most were saved by the
quick actions of those who first responded to the fire, including National
Park Service and marina concessions staff and other volunteers.

An initial assessment estimated the value of the loss of boats and
facilities at between $3 million and $5 million, said Max King, Glen Canyon
spokesman and acting public affairs officer. The remains of those boats and
some of the others have been moved to a secure area for examination by
investigators from the Utah State Fire Marshal’s office and the U.S. Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), which is assisting because the
fire was at a federal facility.

The remains of the dock, one of six sets of docks at the marina, are
cordoned off and not open to boats or the public. The portion of dock
containing boat slips numbered 11 and higher also is off-limits, according
to the marina concessioner, by order of the fire investigators. King said
that prohibition includes all individuals, slip holders and insurance
company representatives.

King said that in their initial examination of the fire scene,
investigators found no evidence that the fire was deliberately set. The
Utah fire marshal continues to categorize the fires cause as unknown.

Indications are that it's going to take some time to find the cause,â€￾ King
said, noting that the marine environment of the fire will make
determining its origins more complicated. King said investigators have left
the scene for now but will return after the first of the year to continue
their work. Their work is expected to continue into February. The marina is
in one of the more remote locales of the recreation area, which encompasses
more than 1.25 million acres in southern Utah and northern Arizona along
the course of the Colorado River.

As we move into the investigation phase, the role of the National Park
Service is shifting to assistance as needed and securing the scene, King
said. Scott Ryan, chief ranger at Natural Bridges National Monument about
60 miles from Halls Crossing, has begun to assess the site for any
potential environmental damage so that appropriate clean-up measures can
take place.

King said that anyone with information about the fire or needing to contact
investigators should do so through the Utah State Fire Marshals office.
The phone number is 801-284-6350.