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Three teens, one parent charged in 12K-acre southern Utah wildfire

File Photo: Turkey Farm Road Fire
Posted at 4:12 PM, Sep 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-22 18:12:24-04

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Color Country Interagency Fire Management announced three teenagers and one of the juvenile's parents have been charged in connection with the "Turkey Farm Road Fire," which burned nearly 12,000 acres in southern Utah in July.

According to a news release from CCIFM, the charges filed include obstruction of justice in a criminal investigation, providing false or misleading information, use of fireworks in violation of fire restriction order and reckless burning.

The wildfire ignited on the night of July 13 about three miles west of Washington City. Fire officials attributed the cause of the fire to the illegal use of fireworks in a restricted area.

Erratic winds caused the fire to spread rapidly to surrounding federal, state and private lands.

The cost of fire suppression efforts exceeded $2.5 million and extensive rehabilitation efforts are needed to stabilize and restore the burn area, the news release said.

The three teens involved are from the St. George area. Their cases have been referred to the Washington County Juvenile Court. The adult was charged with obstruction of justice.