Fires Burning Utah Forest, Idaho Brush

A wind-whipped fire has charred 8,000 acres of the scenic Dixie National Forest in southwestern Utah. Wind gusted to 40 mph as the flames burned through tinder-dry juniper and brush about 275 miles south of Salt Lake City, a forest spokeswoman said. Along with the stiff wind, southern Utah has had several days of temperatures topping 100 degrees. The fire was being held to about three miles away from power lines serving Los Angeles, the spokeswoman said. Meanwhile, a fire in southeastern Idaho had burned through 13,000 acres of brush near the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, cutting one of several power lines to the nuclear research center. The fire was 80% contained. Firefighters in western Colorado estimated they had contained 40% of a 5,340-acre fire in rugged canyon country.