Two wildfires burn in southern Utah, LV area

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Two wildfires continued to threaten southern parts of Nevada and Utah Monday.

A brush fire swept through more than 1,500-acres in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge 40 miles north of Las Vegas Monday. The Bureau of Land Management had received a call at 3 p.m. Monday from someone who saw smoke hovering over Coyote Springs, a wilderness study area near U.S. 93 and State Route 168.

Kirsten Cannon, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management, said firefighters have not yet begun to suppress the blaze. There was lightening Monday in the area of the wildfire, but fire officials have not yet determined the cause, Cannon said.

Fire officials were scheduled to fly over the wilderness area this morning, she said. After the overflight, the officials would determine a plan to combat the blaze, she said.

Meanwhile, overcast skies and high humidity kept lightning-sparked wildfires that have burned for days in southern Utah from significantly advancing Monday.

The fire has blackened about 16,000 acres, but no communities were immediately in danger, said BLM spokesman David Boyd.

Three helicopters and more than 300 firefighters, including two engines from Nevada, were battling the Square Complex fire about 14 miles north of St. George, Boyd said.

Boyd said the fire was 20 percent contained, and officials expected it to be fully contained by Sunday.

That all depends on how the weather cooperates with efforts, he said.

"It really didn't put up much smoke today, but it still could," Boyd said.

Sun reporter

Beth Slovic and the Associated Press contributed to this story.