Firefighters Make Headway Mild Weather Gives Crews A Break Against Utah Wildfires

Two days of mild weather helped firefighters make headway against blazes that have burned more than 170,000 acres in Utah.

Weather also gave weary fire crews a break in several of the wildfires burning in five other Western states.

The largest fire in the nation so far this season, the Leamington Complex of five fires 85 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, was put at more than 135,500 acres Thursday.

The blaze, which had 900 people assigned to it, was 30 percent contained and was expected to be fully contained by Monday and controlled by next Thursday. A fire is contained when it is fully surrounded and not expanding; it is declared under control when flames are extinguished.

Fishlake National Forest spokesman Raquel Romero said firefighters benefited from temperatures that dipped into the 40-degree range overnight and highs Wednesday only in the low 80s.

“Spirits are up,” Romero said. “It’s always a boost when weather gives them a help.”

But fire information officer Kay Beall said a return to single-digit humidity and temperatures in the 90s, expected beginning today, increases the potential for more erratic fire behavior. Also, lightning was forecast again this weekend.

Firefighters haven’t been able to set a containment date for the 13,325-acre Adelaide Complex fire, burning 80 miles south of the Leamington fire. Nearly 900 personnel battled the blaze Thursday.

The fire was 30 percent contained by this morning with one of the two blazes that make up the complex - the 1,040-acre Dog Mountain fire - 100 percent contained, Beall said.

The weather appeared to help with many of the other major fires burning in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming.

However, heavy winds and high temperatures were forecast today west of Wheatland, Wyo., where firefighters battled a 4,900-acre fires.

In Nevada, authorities said they strongly suspected arson in a wildfire that burned across 6,700 acres in the Sierra Nevada and forced hundreds to flee homes on the western outskirts of Reno. Deputy State Forester Otis Turner said a man was being sought, but would not elaborate.

The fire, which broke out Monday in steep terrain, was expected to be contained today.