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The Forsyth Fire started Thursday in the Pine Valley Mountains
and has already burned about 2.3 square miles (5.96 square
kilometers), said Karl Hunt, a spokesperson for the Utah
Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands. It has forced people
to evacuate from the Pine Valley Community and nearby
campgrounds, although the number of people who have fled was not
immediately clear.
The blaze, which is about 15 miles (24.1 kilometers) northeast
of St. George and includes steep, mountainous terrain, has also
threatened 400 structures.
By Friday evening, the fire remained uncontained despite 150
people battling the blaze, including two hotshot crews from Utah
and Nevada, according to Hunt. Teams were using helicopters,
more than a dozen engines and water tenders.
The cause of the fire has not been determined and is under
investigation, Hunt said.
He urged the public to stay away, saying: “Let the firefighters
do what they do best and try to get this fire under control.”
There has been a red flag warning in the area since Thursday
because of high wind gusts, low humidity and high temperatures.
Hunt said the blaze came fairly early in the year, following a
drought declaration by Utah's governor.
“So the fuel is drier this year as well. And so if you combine
the drier fuel with the high winds and it’s ripe for a
wildfire,” he said. “Kind of like the perfect storm.”
There have been no injuries or deaths, according to Hunt.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on the social media site X that they
are closely monitoring the fire and urged the public to follow
local officials' instructions.
“If you’re in the area, please evacuate immediately," he said.
“First responders are doing heroic work, but they need your
cooperation to save lives.”
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