Spa store in St. George reopens in temporary space days after fire

ST. GEORGE — The hot tub and spa store that was the site of a large fire Friday is back in business, albeit at a temporary location.

The fire that started in the back storage area of Tropical Spas on Red Hills Parkway sent a dark tower of smoke skyward that could be seen from miles away and also affected nearby businesses. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials have ruled out a forklift, which some social media users speculated.

“The forklift was an exposure, not the cause,” St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker told St. George News Wednesday. “We’re still in the investigation phase.”

Tropical Spas says it has now opened a temporary retail center directly to the west inside what was an empty storefront at 1295 E. Red Hills Pkwy. The store owners, in a statement, said the location will include complimentary water testing, pool and spa accessories and spas for sale.

They also say their spa repair and water maintenance services have continued uninterrupted.

“Although this loss was immense, the outpouring of love and support from loyal customers, the amazing community … has been even greater,” the statement read.

Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.

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