PINE VALLEY, Utah (KUTV) — Twelve structures have been destroyed and 400 others remain threatened as the Forsyth Fire continues to burn in Washington County, fueled by high winds and dry conditions.
The Utah Division of Natural Resources said the wildfire, which ignited Thursday evening northwest of St. George, had grown to an estimated 1,500 acres by Friday evening in the Pine Valley area. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the Pine Valley Community.
“First responders are doing heroic work, but they need your cooperation to save lives,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shared on X. “Please follow the instructions of local leaders and emergency personnel.”
As of Friday, 150 firefighters were working to contain the blaze, with a primary focus on protecting homes and other structures. Evacuations began Thursday night as authorities went door to door warning residents. By Friday, flames had reached Main Street and continued to spread, Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lucas Alfred said. All structure losses occurred that day.
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The fire was estimated to be 50 to 100 acres on Thursday night, but strong led to rapid growth. Firefighters used pre-existing fuel breaks to slow the fire overnight, allowing ground and aerial crews to focus on protecting structures.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Authorities said they will continue to monitor the fire closely.
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