Forest Fires Rage Through Western States

Utah firefighters Sunday continued battling blazes that have charred more than 17,000 acres, but more crews were able to leave eastern Oregon after controlling or containing fires that swept through 100,000 acres.

More than 200 firefighters in Idaho attacked dozens of lightning-sparked fires in the Boise National Forest and had contained all but the 27,770-acre Willow Creek Complex fire, officials said.

“If the winds don’t pick up like they did yesterday, we ought to make real good progress,” said Scott Brayton, an Interagency Fire Center spokesman in Salt Lake City.

50% Contained

In the Salt Lake district, the 2,000-acre Chaos fire, which was fanned by thunderstorms Saturday into a 5,000-acre inferno, was 50% contained Sunday, Brayton said. About 90 firefighters, 13 trucks and one helicopter were called to that fire west of Salt Lake City, Brayton said.

Another 25 firefighters battled the 1,800-acre Christine fire on state and private land nearby, Brayton said. He said no containment time was estimated on that fire.

To the south, near Utah’s Little Sahara Recreation Area, about 35 Bureau of Land Management firefighters worked on four fires totaling more than 7,000 acres, said spokesman Bert Hart.

Temperatures Near 100

Crews fighting Idaho’s Willow Creek fire were close to containment but hampered by low humidity and temperatures near 100, said dispatcher Jerry Worden.

In southwestern Idaho, crews battled at least two dozen fires started by thunderstorms Thursday, Worden said.

Forest Service crews mopped up after the 1,021-acre Gus Creek fire in the Nez Perce National Forest near Lewiston, Ida., said spokeswoman Mary Zabinski. Before it was controlled Friday, the fire was worked by 17 20-man crews, she said.

Being Allowed to Burn

The Dog fire was still burning in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area near the Montana-Idaho line. Zabinski said that fire had burned 3,200 acres but was being allowed to burn because it was a naturally caused fire inside a wilderness area.