MOAB — Authorities on Friday said they are now offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads an arrest in connection with a fire that destroyed 10 homes Tuesday evening.

Grand County Sheriff’s Office officials said in a statement they are looking for an individual or individuals responsible for the Cinema Court Apartment fire, which broke out in a wooded area near Pack Creek shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Officials determined the fire was human-caused, Grand County Sheriff Steve White said on Wednesday, but much of how it started remains unknown.

In addition to the homes, officials said five firefighters and multiple residents of the area were treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion Tuesday. About 150 people were also evacuated after the fire broke out.

Authorities also said the Southeast Utah Health Department closed off the area where the fire burned Friday because of “possible health hazards.”

“The area will remain closed until there is a certified asbestos inspector that has inspected the area and approves it,” sheriff’s officials said in the statement. “They will then notify the Health Department, Moab City, or the Grand County officials.”

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'We'll live': Moab homeowners return to charred houses

As homeowners in Moab returned to their charred houses on Thursday, investigators were trying to figure out who sparked the brush fire that overtook 10 houses, and how.

Fire restrictions also went into effect for all unincorporated land in southeastern Utah, according to Grand County officials. No fires, including grilling with charcoal and briquettes, are allowed in unincorporated land in San Juan, Grand, Emery and Carbon counties.

Smoking is also barred from anywhere aside from inside a vehicle, a trailer, a building or a developed recreational site. Discharging fireworks is also prohibited, as is using a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV or other small internal combustion engines, Utah State Forester Brian Cottam stated in the fire restrictions.

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