ST. GEORGE — A wildfire was reported at 10 p.m. on Friday night south of Cedar City. Later named the Graff Point Fire, the blaze is located on a hillside between Murie Creek and Hicks Creek near Hamilton Fort.
The fire quickly grew to an estimated 100 acres said Ryan Riddle, the Incident Commander and Fire Warden for Iron County.
Riddle said firefighters are working to improve access in the steep and rugged terrain as they battle the blaze.
The fire is reported as being caused by lighting. Riddle said aircraft have recently been mobilized along with several crews currently working on direct suppression on parts of the fire.
“We’re going to go after it aggressively,” he said.
The wildfire is burning near the top of steep, rugged terrain Utah Fire info reported on social media. Thick smoke from the underbrush burning can be seen from Cedar City and Hamilton Fort areas.
Fire crews are asking residents to avoid the areas near the fire and Old Highway 91 for the safety of those fighting the wildfire.
At 11:00 a.m., Utah Fire Info reported that an evacuation order is in place for all cabins, trailers and campsites that are located above the wildfire in the upper basin of Shurtz Canyon.
“Road closures from Shurtz Canyon Road to Right Hand Canyon, Kolob Mt. Road,” Utah Fire Info posted on X. “Please avoid the area.”
Updated at 4 p.m. on July 13: Utah Fire Info reported the Graff Point Fire has grown to 265 acres. No structures have been destroyed, but approximately 20 properties near Shurtz Canyon in Iron County have been evacuated.
The Central Interagency Management Team is scheduled to take command of the fire suppression operations on Sunday, July 14, at 10 a.m.
“Today, several air resources are on scene and working to make progress,” Color Country Interagency Fire said in a media update. “However, dry fuels, strong winds, extremely low relative humidity and high temperatures have posed a challenge.”
Red flag weather warnings remain in effect throughout the day on Sunday.
Update 1:16 p.m., July 13: At 6 a.m., Incident Commander Mack McFarland with Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 6 took command of the Graff Point Fire, located 4-5 miles south of Cedar City. The fire was ignited by lightning on private property on Saturday. All efforts are being made to suppress the fire safely, and recent precipitation has helped to moderate its behavior.
As of Monday morning, the estimated acreage is 543 acres. Crews are actively engaged in full suppression efforts. The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain, requiring hand crews to secure the fire line. On Sunday, hand crews anchored a handline at Hicks Creek and Monday, they will continue constructing the handline to the ridge. Hand crews are also progressing from the top of the fire, securing the fire line to the northeast side. Air resources will support ground efforts. Indirect line construction will be implemented as a contingency measure.
Current weather conditions include hot and dry temperatures, along with low relative humidity. There is also a potential for thunderstorms and outflow winds later Monday, increasing the fire’s risk due to extremely dry fuels and the possibility of dry lightning.
For the safety of both the public and firefighters, road closures remain in effect for Tipple Road, Kannara Mountain Road and on top the Kannara Mountain Road going over to Kolob Road.
This story will be updated as more information is released.
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