One fire is contained; 2nd blaze grows larger

CEDAR CITY — Firefighters on Monday contained a wildfire near Cedar City, but another fire was approaching the Shivwits Reservation, 10 miles northwest of St. George.

The Shivwits 2 fire started about 3 p.m. Tuesday and had burned more than 60 acres. The fire likely was caused by humans, an Arizona Strip fire information statement said.

The Shivwits 2 fire burned within a half-mile of houses, but those homes were not considered to be in immediate danger Tuesday night. About 40 firefighters were aided by four air tankers and a helicopter on Tuesday, the statement said.

The 60-acre Square Mountain fire, burning two miles south of Cedar City, was contained Monday. Firefighters were expected to patrol the area for flare-ups through the rest of the week, a fire information statement said.

The fire was reported Saturday evening and could be seen from Cedar City and I-15. It consumed pinyon and juniper in the upper reaches of Shurtz Canyon, the statement said.

The Square Mountain fire probably was started by a "lightning holdover," when a past lightning strike causes an area to slowly smolder until it becomes a fire.

Information about Utah wildfires can be found at www.utahfireinfo.gov.