Firefighters gain on blazes throughout West

Bob Mims

Friday, Aug. 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Outdoor enthusiasts have been asked to pursue their recreational interests somewhere other than the fire lines.

The appeal came Thursday as firefighters made progress on containing fires burning over more than 180,000 acres in Utah but were concerned about hot weather and potential lightning.

Progress also was reported by crews battling blazes in Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona, but firefighters there, too, worried about rising temperatures.

The complaint about joggers, mountain bikers and hikers getting too near the action was aired by Rose Davis, Forest Service fire information officer on two Utah County blazes.

"People should recreate somewhere else," she said. "Firefighters are turning around and seeing joggers. If they're not focused on what they're doing -- that created some real safety issues for us."

She said the 2,900-acre Tank Fire in Provo Canyon was 80 percent contained and was expected to be fully contained by Saturday night, with control by Monday night. There were 440 personnel on the fire.

Firefighters also battled a 50-acre blaze that earlier had burned within a couple of miles of a Girl Scout camp. The camp was never evacuated and the fire was 80 percent contained Thursday night, with full containment expected by tonight and control by 8 p.m. Saturday, Davis said.

Crews in central Utah extended fire lines on the two largest blazes, the 134,900-acre Leamington Complex of five fires and the 14,585-acre Adelaide Complex of two fires. The estimated size of the Leamington Complex was lowered slightly Thursday after remapping.

The Leamington Complex was 50 percent contained with full containment expected Monday and the Adelaide Complex was 65 percent contained with full containment expected Sunday night.

Joe Iozzi, fire information officer, said much of the effort Thursday was directed toward saving large areas within the Lemington Complex that have not been burned.

He said the hot weather was a concern. The temperature hit 98 thursday and humidity was in the single digits. Similar weather was expected today with possible lightning during the weekend.

"We have crews standing by for initial attack in case we get that (lightning)," he said.

About 900 firefighters are on the Leamington Complex and 700 on the Adelaide.

In northwestern Utah, the 22,450-acre North Stansbury Complex of three fires was fully contained late Thursday.

Firefighters also declared control of a 30,450-acre wildland blaze near the northeastern Nevada town of Montello. The lightning-sparked blaze broke out Aug. 1.

Warm, dry weather was expected to add to firefighters' difficulties as they continue to battle the growing timber fire in the rugged mountains west of Wheatland, Wyo.

But with the arrival of reinforcements bringing to 737 the number of firefighters on the scene, officials predicted continued progress.

Greg Stahl, Forest Service fire information officer, said crews Thursday had completed containment lines around 40 percent of the flames, which covered 6,227 acres, with full containment expected by next Wednesday.

Seven structures have burned since the blaze flared up Monday, but crews from county, state and federal agencies have dug fire lines around summer homes and cabins to prevent any further damage.

About 170 firefighters hoped to control a 24,000-acre fire burning near Miles City in southeastern Montana by Saturday.

Weekend containment is expected in western Colorado for three fires that burned nearly 17,000 acres. The largest was the 15,000-acre O'Pinion Fire.

About 180 firefighters fought a 200-acre blaze at Lancelot Point, along the north rim of the Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona. Smoke and flames closed the Swamp Ridge-Kanabownits Road leading to the North Bass Trailhead.