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CEDAR CITY — A late-season wildfire burning near Cedar City prompted evacuations of three homes early Monday and put one subdivision on alert.
The fire is believed to be the result of a controlled burn on private property from Sunday, which was whipped back up by high winds, according to Iron County Sheriff's Lt. Del Schlosser.
State fire officials declared the blaze — which is burning in the Hicks Creek area about 3 miles south of Cedar City — to be a wildfire about 1 a.m.
Schlosser said it is not confirmed that the blaze began on private lands, but it is suspected to have started there.
Residents of the three homes were instructed to evacuate about 4 a.m. as the fire grew and began moving toward the residential area, Schlosser said. The Cedar Highlands subdivision of Cedar Mountain was also put on standby for possible evacuations.
As of 10 a.m., the Hicks Creek fire had reached 1,500 acres and was continuing to grow, according to fire officials. Winds in the area were reducing, however, slowing the fire's progress.
Jason Curry, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands spokesman, said it's common for wildfires to occur this late in the season, but they usually don't grow to this magnitude.
No containment was reported Monday afternoon, and the three evacuations remained in effect, according to Curry.
#HicksCreek Fire now estimated at 1,500 acres. Growth continues, but reduced winds have helped slow fire. Helicopters and tankers on order.
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) October 17, 2016
An informational meeting for the on-alert Cedar Highlands neighborhood is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 1120 W. Greens Lake Drive.
Meanwhile, residents were advised that U.S. 91 between Kanarraville and Cedar City, as well as mountain roads above Shurtz Creek, have been closed.
Firefighters battling the blaze were brought in from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Utah's Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Iron County and Cedar City.
