Heavy rain floods homes, forces closures

A rainstorm which moved through the area Wednesday caused flooding in the community of Brookside, alongside the Santa Clara River, Central Fire Department officials said.

Central Fire Department Chief Steve Haluska said the river crested around 2 p.m. causing flooding near about 15 homes.

"Some of the houses got water in them," Haluska said, adding that the extent of damage to the homes was unknown as of Wednesday afternoon.

No injuries were reported.

As of 5:30 p.m., around 75 people, including firefighters, volunteers and inmates from the Purgatory Correctional Facility were on scene conducting a sandbagging operation.

"This is our number one priority," Haluska said. "If the the rain stays away we'll be fine. If it doesn't we'll be in trouble."

Rain tapered off late Wednesday and into Thursday but the National Weather Service reported that winter weather could arrive by the weekend. 

A flood warning remained in effect Washington and southwestern Kane Counties into Thursday morning but the weather service said flows in rivers and streams were decreasing.

Some roads and trails remained closed inside Zion National Park, which saw flood damage earlier in the week.

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