Latest news with #ForsythFire
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Windy Conditions Fan Wildfires in the West
A wildfire in southwestern Utah destroyed 17 homes, and threatened hundreds more, as it grew to more than 1,500 acres on Friday night, the authorities said. The blaze, known as the Forsyth fire, burned just north of St. George, a city near the state's borders with Nevada and Arizona and about 30 minutes from Zion National Park. The damage was concentrated in Pine Valley, a community of just over 300 people about 40 minutes north of St. George. Hundreds of firefighters and other emergency personnel responded to Pine Valley on Thursday when the fire broke out, but a quick change in the winds on Friday led to the destruction of homes, Sheriff Nate Brooksby of Washington County said on Facebook. 'The firefighters were shocked,' Sheriff Brooksby said. 'I could see it in their eyes. They gave it all they had, and still lost to mother nature.' All the residents of Pine Valley had been ordered to evacuate and members of the public were advised to stay away until the fire was contained, the sheriff's office said. Red flag winds, those averaging 15 miles per hour or greater during dry conditions, continue to drive the fire, according to Utah Fire Info, an interagency team for public information regarding wildfires. According to the agency, 150 personnel had been deployed to fight the fire and 400 structures remained under threat. The cause of the fire remained under investigation. About 500 miles west, in Douglas County, Nev., roughly 25 miles east of Lake Tahoe, the Conner fire exploded to almost 14,000 acres, from 2,000 acres on Friday. The fire started as a structure fire, according to the Bureau of Land Management of Nevada, spreading quickly in windy conditions as dry brush and grass fueled its growth. Resources from federal, state and local agencies from Nevada and California were responding to the fire and almost 500 emergency workers were involved in attempts to contain it. Evacuations had been ordered. Images shared on social media showed plumes of smoke from the Conner fire that were visible from Lake Tahoe, a popular vacation destination that straddles California and Nevada and is home to hiking trails, campgrounds and cabins. Wildfire risk remained high as large sections of the United States were expected to experience a heat wave over the weekend. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sections of the country encompassing parts of California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming were at critical risk of wildfires.
13 hours ago
- Climate
Fast-moving blaze in southwest Utah destroys a dozen structures and forces evacuations
PINE VALLEY, Utah -- A fast-moving fire fueled by high winds on Friday has destroyed a dozen structures, including homes, and forced some in a rural area of southwest Utah to evacuate. 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.'
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fast-moving blaze in southwest Utah destroys a dozen structures and forces evacuations
PINE VALLEY, Utah (AP) — A fast-moving fire fueled by high winds on Friday has destroyed a dozen structures, including homes, and forced some in a rural area of southwest Utah to evacuate. 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.'
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Fast-moving blaze in southwest Utah destroys a dozen structures and forces evacuations
A fast-moving fire fueled by high winds on Friday has destroyed a dozen structures, including homes, and forced some in a rural area of southwest Utah to evacuate. 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.'
Hamilton Spectator
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Fast-moving blaze in southwest Utah destroys a dozen structures and forces evacuations
PINE VALLEY, Utah (AP) — A fast-moving fire fueled by high winds on Friday has destroyed a dozen structures, including homes, and forced some in a rural area of southwest Utah to evacuate. 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.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
