Utah Blazes Nearly Controlled as Firefighters Make Headway
Lightning-sparked fires that scorched 140,000 acres of mostly desert brush were nearly under control Sunday, allowing some firefighters to head home.
More than 1,600 firefighters have been battling two blazes since they started at the beginning of the month.
The biggest burned about 124,000 acres of mostly sagebrush and desert scrub pine in central Utah, about 85 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
About 760 firefighters were ready for a break after several days of work. The fire burned power poles and fences but no structures or livestock. Most of the area is federally owned land without houses.
Air tankers were dropping retardant at the southern end of the fire, which was about 90% contained by midafternoon. Lighter winds helped give the edge to firefighters, many of whom were preparing to leave.
Meanwhile, about 750 firefighters were having a tougher time containing a fire 80 miles farther south at the Fishlake National Forest. About 15,000 acres have burned there so far.
Steep terrain and heavy timber made the fight harder, but close to 90% of the blaze had been contained.
Other wildfires burned in remote areas of Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, but relatively little acreage was involved.
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