St. George • A brush fire that threatened more than 100 homes in St. George on Tuesday afternoon is now considered fully contained, according to Utah fire officials.
No structures were lost or damaged as the “Washington Assist 01″ Fire burned in the River Bottoms area of Washington County, near South 3000 East Street and Mall Drive, according to Utah Wildfire Info.
The fire was first reported at about 3 p.m., St. George fire Chief Robert Stoker said near the scene Tuesday. With whipping wind, the flames spread quickly, threatening a newer home development in the area.
Multiple agencies responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon, and local officials requested help from state resources, which is typical for wildfires, a spokesperson with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said.
Private contractors also descended on the scene to help, bringing bulldozers and other heavy equipment including water trucks to help establish a fire line and protect nearby homes. Stoker said.
“They’re an invaluable resource to us,” Stoker said.
Officials considered ordering evacuations Tuesday but ultimately decided against it, though Stoker noted some people chose to self-evacuate from the area. The about 40-acre fire sent up a huge cloud of smoke that was visible for miles.
(Utah Fire Info) The "Washington Assist 01" Fire burns about 40 acres in St. George on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
“As you can see, there’s a huge fire behind us here that we are dealing with,” St. George police officer Tiffany Mitchell said Tuesday afternoon in a Facebook Live video update.
“It’s moving pretty good, it’s a dangerous situation right now that we’re in,” Mitchell continued. “So we’re just asking that everybody please do your part — stay home, stay away.”
Local law enforcement and fire crews as well as Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands resources worked together to tamp down the flames. By Tuesday evening, state and federal resources were released.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire site was still smoldering, and local fire crews continued to monitor it.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
(Mark Eddington | The Salt Lake Tribune) What remains of the "Washington Assist 01" Fire continues to smolder in St. George early Wednesday, May 10, 2023. The fire ignited Tuesday afternoon and burned about 40 acres.
