Updated at 2:45 p.m., May 28.
SOUTHERN UTAH – Officials reported the Smith Mesa wildfire near Virgin has been 100 percent contained as of Monday afternoon.
Located five miles north of virgin, the fire started soon after 2 p.m., Saturday and was the result of an escaped campfire. The size of the fire, which was reported to have been 138 acres, has since been reduced to 123 acres due to more accurate mapping. The fire was completed contained as of 2 p.m. Monday.
Erratic winds between 15-20 miles-per-hour helped spread the fire on Saturday, but cool overnight temperatures, higher relative humidity and calmer weather have aided fire crews in containing the blaze.
Mike Melton, a fire management officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said in an emailed update that the fire is currently smoldering with flare ups within the perimeter.
Though structures have been threatened, fire crews were able to suppress any rick to nearby properties.
Firefighting resources on hand currently include two engines that will be monitoring the fire over the next few days.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.
It seems these people don’t listen to my news broadcasts in the morning. I specifically warned everyone on Friday that winds would be a huge factor over the weekend, and campers should be especially cautious with their campfires! I guess more people should tune in to KTIM in the mornings!
Sounds like people should just use common sense and not start a fire during a windstorm.