ST. GEORGE — A fire broke out near the Oak Grove Campground at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, prompting an evacuation for campers as firefighters worked to contain the burn.
According to information published on the Utah government’s fire website, the blaze was initially listed at 15-20 acres. The fire was human caused by an unattended campfire, and an investigation is ongoing.
Updated Aug. 29, 6:40 p.m. Utah Fire Info estimated that the fire has grown to over 200 acres and no containment at this time. Structures are threatened.
The response has gathered resources from several agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Four crews, seven smoke jumpers and a water dropping helicopter are responding to the blaze.
Dixie National Forest Service closed the Oak Grove Campground and the upper end of Browse Road on June 16 due to extreme fire hazard. However, the fire restrictions on all federally administered public lands, state lands and unincorporated private lands in southwest Utah were lifted Friday following an announcement from the Color Country Interagency Fire Center.
This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. This is a developing story.
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Smoke from an active wildfire atop Pine Valley Mountain, Pine Valley, Utah, Aug. 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Marge Harrison-Quigly, St. George News
The fire threatened a number of structures in the campground, Pine Valley, UT, Aug. 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Doris McNally, St. George News
This August 2021 file photo shows smoke from an active wildfire atop Pine Valley Mountain that was visible from the Oak Grove Campground, Pine Valley, Utah, Aug. 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Doris McNally, St. George News
Thick plumes of smoke from the Oak Grove fire, location unspecified, Aug. 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Sandra Houston Given, St. George New
Smoke from the wildfire atop Pine Valley Mountain was visible from St. George, Utah, Aug. 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Cole Dillard, St. George News
Smoke from the wildfire atop Pine Valley Mountain was visible from St. George, Utah, Aug. 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Sharon Herron-Reading, St. George News
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