ST. GEORGE — The West Valley Fire, which ignited on Pine Valley Mountain June 27, has now reached 46 percent containment thanks to the personnel working the fire and favorable weather conditions.
The fire was 11,785 acres in size as of Sunday morning. There are 442 personnel fighting the blaze, which started from a abandoned campfire. According to a news release issued by Color Country Interagency Fire, Sunday’s weather also contributed to the increased containment. The lower temperatures and light winds helped lower active fire behavior.
Read more: Southern Utah weekend weather forecast: Chance of rain after weeks of heat, wildfires
The changes in weather allowed firefighters to complete work on hot spots, which resulted in an increased fire perimeter.
With the increase in containment, the amount of crews will begin to decrease. Backhaul of equipment has already begun, but crews will continue to battle the fire in the coming days. Structure protection groups will continue to monitor any areas with potential risk of burning. As the fire reaches further containment, firefighters will begin leaving the Pine Valley area.
Officials are reminding residents that Stage II fire restrictions are still in place. Check Utah Fire Info for current fire restrictions in your area.
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Any perps caught? I hope they will be, and then charged and forced to pay the costs.