By Judy Fahys
The Salt Lake Tribune
Copyright 2007 The Salt Lake Tribune

KANOSH, Utah — The largest wildfire in state history topped 311,000 acres early today, but an influx of 200 fresh firefighters hopes to rein in a wind-whipped inferno that has blackened 469 square miles of southcentral Utah's high desert rangelands.

The winds were lighter than in previous days and the Milford Flat fire - the largest in the West this year - was burning north-northwest in pinyon pine, juniper, sagebrush and farm and cattle grazing lands. One good development, though: flames were avoiding the small communities dotting the region and no evacuations or injuries were reported overnight.

Still, progress containing the blaze was very slow, with total containment estimated at no more than 10 percent this morning. More than 300 firefighters were on hand at dawn today to fight the blaze 120 miles south of Salt Lake City.

But Tuesday brought new pressures for fire managers as more blazes sprouted over the West and the Milford Flat fire continued to burn largely uncontrolled.

"Resources are becoming sparse across the nation," said Rowdy Muir, Milford Flat fire's incident commander.

The Milford Flat fire stretches about 55 miles south-to-north and about 40 miles east-to-west. Next to the 1,300-acre Mathis fire near Price, it is currently considered among the nation's highest priority blazes. In all, about 355 firefighters were fighting the Milford Flat fire.

Nationally, there are 44 large fires, three of which sprouted up yesterday, said Muir.

Meanwhile, weather forecasts suggest new thunderstorms will begin to build, beginning Wednesday. And with them comes the threat of more dry lightning, microburst winds and new fires across the West.

"We'd like to do what we can before we get another wind event," said Muir.

The Milford Flat fire contributed to the deaths of a California couple whose motorcycle was struck by a car in heavy smoke Saturday. It has also destroyed at least one home, about 10 outbuildings, pastures and apparently scores of cattle, leaving ranchers fearful for their livelihoods.

The National Weather Service is predicting that firefighters on the Milford blaze will have to contend with daytime temperatures in the 90s, said Brandon Smith, a fire weather meteorologist.

Even with the fairer conditions, the fire has demonstrated its power. The ramp from Interstate 70 to Interstate 15 was closed for about 15 minutes Monday when flames approached it and black smoke shot through it. The interstates themselves remained open today.