Forsyth Fire 22% contained as evacuees in Washington County return home
Jun 27, 2025, 3:12 PM | Updated: 8:21 pm
Evacuees from the Forsyth Fire in Washington County, Utah wait at a roadblock to be allowed to return home. (Istvan Bartos, KSL TV)
(Istvan Bartos, KSL TV)
PINE VALLEY, Washington County — People in southern Utah are back home one week after evacuating from the Forsyth Fire.
Around 10 a.m. Friday, the sheriff’s office began allowing residents of Pine Valley, Grass Valley and Gray’s Ranch to return to the area. Hundreds evacuated last week after flames from the Forsyth fire spread out of control, destroying 13 homes and four other buildings.
Since then, the area has been closed, but sheriff’s officials have now opened it back up to residents only. Deputies on scene Friday morning checked IDs before allowing vehicles to head up the mountain.
“It is such a relief to be back to being able to be back to our home,” said Christina Griffin, who lives in Pine Valley.
Christina Griffin speaks with reporters before heading back home to Pine Valley, Utah after the Forsyth Fire on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Istvan Bartos, KSL TV)
Officials said the Forsyth Fire was caused when lightning hit a tree. Since it was first discovered last week, it has burned more than 10,000 acres. By Friday evening, the fire was 22% contained. Much of the early containment of this fire, according to public information officer Candy Stevenson, was concentrated around Pine Valley itself, which allowed residents to go back.
“It makes us feel good,” Stevenson said. “A lot of times we don’t get to do that so soon when we’re on a fire assignment.”
Even though residents have been cleared to return, they are on standby to evacuate again if needed. Stevenson said firefighters are still in Pine Valley to monitor conditions and answer questions as people go back home.
Smoke from the Forsyth Fire in Washington County, Utah is pictured on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Istvan Bartos, KSL TV)
“I’m really going to be sad to see all the devastation of what the fire has done,” Griffin said. “But then we are really appreciative of the firefighters and all that they’ve had, and we’re glad that there’s been no loss in lives.”
Around 700 people are currently working on fighting the Forsyth Fire. Officials said the fire could burn for a long time until significant rain hits the area.
Meanwhile, heading into the weekend, the weather is expected to make things more difficult for firefighters. Temperatures are rising, it’s getting drier, and the wind is stronger than it has been recently.
