Smith Mesa fire 50 percent contained

Hurricane Fire Truck, Hurricane, Utah (photo is generic and not particular to featured story)

Updated at 12:45 p.m., May 27.

SOUTHERN UTAH – The wildfire at Smith Mesa is now 50 percent contained.

Located five miles north of Virgin, the fire was reported to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands at 2:20 p.m., Saturday. Mike Melton, the fire management officer for Southwest Utah, said the fire was caused by a “runaway campfire.”

Melton said the fire had burned 138 acres and was initially driven by erratic 15 to 20 mile-per-hour winds Saturday. The fire is now 50 percent contained thanks  to cool temperatures overnight and higher relative humidity.

Fire crews are continuing to mop up as weather warms and dries Sunday.

The fire burned around two cabins and a camp trailer, but no damage was reported. Two other cabins remain threatened.

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Copyright 2012 St. George News.

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