WASHINGTON COUNTY — A brush fire burned through more than 65 acres in just four hours resulting in a collective response from six different fire departments Saturday afternoon.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m. a brush fire was reported near state Route 17 at around mile marker 4 approximately 1 mile west of Toquerville, said Mike Melton, fire management officer for the southwest Utah area and state aviation officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
Firefighters from Hurricane Valley Fire District arrived on scene and started fighting the blaze while reinforcements were called in to assist, including fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management’s Color Country Fire District and the Utah Division of Forestry.
Air support was also called in to assist firefighters on the ground, including an air tanker that dropped fire retardant to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
“The origin of this fire is suspicious, but it is still under investigation,” Melton said.
Troopers with the Utah Highway Patrol also assisted at the scene.
This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
A brush fire burns the side of a hill off of state Route 17 near mile marker 4 approximately 1 mile west of Toquerville Saturday, Washington County, Utah, May 27, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Air tanker provides air support for firefighters on the ground on state Route 17 near mile marker 4 approximately 1 mile west of Toquerville Saturday, Washington County, Utah, May 27, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George Smoke fills the air as a brush fire moves quickly near state Route 17 in Washington County Saturday, Utah, May 27, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Air tanker provides air support for firefighters on the ground on state Route 17 near mile marker 4 approximately 1 mile west of Toquerville Saturday, Washington County, Utah, May 27, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News A brush fire burns the side of a hill off of state Route 17 near mile marker 4 approximately 1 mile west of Toquerville Saturday, Washington County, Utah, May 27, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News Brush fire near Toquerville called 'suspicious in origin' Air support is called in for firefighters on the ground on state Route 17 near mile marker 4 approximately 1 mile west of Toquerville Saturday, Washington County, Utah, May 27, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George 
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Corrections? The tanker appears to be a BAe 146, the smaller an Aero Commander, which does not have tanker capabilities. What say you?
Mesaman, thank you for your comment. We have put in a call to Mike Melton for clarification, but in the meantime, we have adjusted the caption for that one particular photograph as “air support.”
Thanks for being an active, observant part of St. George News.
Paul Dail
ST. GEORGE NEWS
Editor, Reporter