Diamond Valley Fire Now at 104 Acres – Human Caused

Diamond Valley Fire | Photo by Jessica Blevins, St. George News
Aerial Fire Support Diamond Valley | Photo by Jessica Blevins, St. George News
Helicopter Fire Support Diamond Valley | Photo by Jessica Blevins, St. George News

Sunday UPDATE August 7, 2011 at 6 p.m.  According to Fire Information Officer report, this fire is now 104 acres, with 70 percent containment.

Cause has now been determined to be human cause, but remains under investigation.

 Gubler-Blake Road remains closed.  All other roads are now open, but caution and regard for fire vehicles and personnel is still urged.

 No evacuations in place at this time and threat to structures is being abated.

UPDATE August 6, 2011, 11  p.m.  

According to Washington County Safety and the Fire Information Officer:   Fire crews, using both ground and air resources, have stopped the progress of the fire at this time, and are working to contain and extinguish remaining hot spots.  Full crews will remain throughout the night to ensure no progression towards homes.  

Evacuees are returning to their homes.

People are asked to stay away from the area and allow fire resources to continue their work.  The Goat Springs Road and Blake and Gubler Roads are being closed pending containment of the fire. Travel is discouraged on the Cottonwood Road and other roads leading into the area. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  The size of the fire is now estimated at 100 acres and is 40% contained.

DIAMOND VALLEY – Wildfire broke out at approximately 4:30 p.m. today on public land at the north end of Diamond Valley Subdivision, 7 miles north of St. George.  Jessica Blevins, nearby homeowner, said that she has been watching planes dropping fire retardant since about 5:30 p.m.  And by 6 p.m. Blevins observes optimistically that the

Aerial Support Diamond Valley Fire | Photo by Jessica Blevins, St. George News

planes are doing a good job putting the fire out.  At 6:45 p.m. she said the fire is still not contained, “one large and one smaller plane are really trying!”

Color Country Interagency’s Fire Information Officer, Kelly Washburn, confirmed that resources are responding, three heavy air tankers are on their way with engines in route as well.  She said that they are getting reinforcements to the site and assessing how close the fire is to homes and what action is required.

The fire was first appraised at 20-30 acres, but by 6:45 p.m. Washburn said the fire is now 75-100 acres.

Homes on the north end of Topaz Road been evacuated, but no mandatory evacuation orders are in affect for other areas of the subdivision.  For more information on evacuations please contact Washington County Emergency Services at 435-632-9074.

Although there are no major road closures, Topaz Road within the Diamond Valley Subdivision has been closed in order to allow for fire personnel and emergency vehicle access.

Structures are threatened but structural protection measures are in place.

The cause of this fire is unknown and is under investigation.

This story will be updated as this fire develops.

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copyright St. George News 2011

 

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