Crews Getting Upper hand On Zion Blaze

Thursday, July 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Fire information officer Anne Stanworth said 247 firefighters were battling flames at the park's Horse Pasture Plateau, in the middle of the park's remote backcountry.

An aerial mapping of the Wildcat Fire showed it had blackened 5,541 acres by Wednesday.

Tinder-dry ponderosa pine, scrub oak and brush fueled the blaze, about 250 miles south of Salt Lake City. The fire is about eight miles north of park headquarters and five miles south of Kolob Reservoir.

Stanworth said the north flank of the fire, which was about two miles from private property, was contained Tuesday night.

But full containment of the southern end of the fire is probably not possible because it is burning up against cliffs and ridges, she said. "Some of it is inaccessible," Stanworth said.

Firefighters may allow the fire at the southern end of the park to burn itself out.

Crews were rushed to the park on Sunday after the blaze - started by lightning two weeks ago - suddenly tripled in size from 1,500 acres.

The Wildcat Fire's sudden growth over the weekend caused park officials to summon crews to halt its spread.

Park officials have closed the West Rim trail from Lava Point. In addition, the Lava Point Road was closed to the Lava Point Campground to reduce traffic congestion from onlookers.

The fire has not impeded day use to Scouts Lookout or Angels Landing, park officials said.

Smoke has left a light haze in the St. George valley since Sunday. And ash from the blaze has sprinkled into nearby Kanab, said city council member Roger Holland.

Fire information officer Steve Robinson said smoke may linger in nearby areas until the fire is put out.

"We understand air quality is an issue," Robinson said. "It's one we're going to deal with the best we can. With the amount of fuel burning there, it's a tough one."