At approximately 1750 on 12 June 2018, a brush fire was reported to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center. The initial report indicated that the fire was threatening structures. Initial first responders from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and Moab City Police Department, the Moab Valley Fire Department and Grand County Emergency Medical Services discovered a large fire in a wooded area to the west of the Cinema Court apartment complex.
Officers immediately began to evacuate residents in the path of the quickly moving fire as firefighters began protection and suppression efforts. A unified incident command was established and coordinated a significant response from law enforcement and fire agencies throughout southeast Utah. Additional evacuations were ordered as the fire moved toward several structures to the north of Holyoak Ln.
Despite the tremendous efforts of firefighters early reports indicate that eight homes, two parking canopies and one garage were destroyed by the fire. Five firefighters and a small number of civilians were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and/or heat exhaustion.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance from other agencies.
There has been a donation account set up at the Grand County Credit Union for the victims of the fire in Moab. The donation account is named the Cinema Court Fire fund. The Red Cross is going to help provide some assistance and supplies to the victims as well. At this time we do not have a list of needed material donations; however, if you have items in good condition that you would like to donate, you may drop them off at the Moab Valley Fire Department.
PRESS RELEASE FROM GRAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE