Was that an eruption? Wildfire and smoke heads over Veyo Volcano north of Dammeron Valley

DAVID DEMILLE | ST. GEORGE SPECTRUM & DAILY NEWS

A fast-moving wildfire was burning at the foot of the cinder cone known as the Veyo Volcano just east of state Route 18 late Sunday.

Just after 9 p.m., residents on the west side of Dammeron Valley were sent an alert saying they should be ready for a possible evacuation.

The fire was estimated at 400 acres, driven quickly south toward the volcano by winds from the north, according to an 8 p.m. update from fire officials. Flames were clearly visible from across the Santa Clara River in Veyo, with fire crews battling the blaze at multiple locations south and west of the volcano near Dammeron Valley.

Smoke was visible from areas along SR-18, which runs between Veyo and Dammeron Valley about 15 miles north of St. George. As flames approached the highway just before 8 p.m., one of two southbound lanes was closed to traffic, although a second lane remained open. The northbound lane was also open.

The fire, reported shortly after 5 p.m., took about an hour to spread east of the cinder cone, near the Lower Sand Cove Reservoir. A canal that connects the upper and lower Sand Cove reservoirs between Dammeron Valley and Gunlock was helping fire crews to work toward establishing containment lines.

The cause of the fire was unknown and under investigation, although a preliminary update on the National Fire Situational Awareness website suggested that it had been human-caused. No injuries of damaged structures were reported, although some people who had been recreating near the reservoirs were asked to leave.

Veyo has seen multiple fires already this year, including a large blaze in July that burned large sections of the west side of the community, including at least two homes and dozens of other buildings.

A fire broke out late Sunday at the foot of the cinder cone known as the Veyo Volcano just west of state Route 18 north.

Sunday’s fire was also burning near the same area where a fire started right next to the highway in early July. That fire forced the closure of the highway but was put out before moving toward any inhabited areas.

A plane drops retardant on a fire along the Veyo Volcano north of Dammeron Valley late Sunday.

Fire and smoke erupted late Sunday over the Veyo Volcano north of Dammeron Valley after a wildfire started along the nearby state Route 18 highway. The blaze headed south and west toward Sand Cove Reservoir.

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