By Nathan C. Gonzalez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Copyright 2007 The Salt Lake Tribune
All Rights Reserved
BEAVER COUNTY, Utah — Increased cloud cover caused a slight dip in temperatures Sunday for crews battling the Milford Flat fire burning in Beaver County.
The lightning-sparked blaze began July 6 and has blackened more than 363,052 acres, burned several structures and was a factor in two traffic-related deaths along Interstate 15.
By Sunday, lower temperatures and sprinkles of rainfall helped firefighters hold containment lines as Type I fire teams prepared to hand over control of the fire to local officials on Tuesday, said Linda Holz, a fire information officer.
“They’re holding,” she said of containment lines that encircle 85 percent of the fire. “We have had a little bit of spotty activity in the southeast portion of the fire. Attack teams are poised and ready to go for any new fire activity.”
Temperatures hovered in the mid-90s as clouds blocked scorching sunlight.
“It’s not as hot today as yesterday with the cloud cover,” Holz said. “Things are looking up.”
It has cost more than $3.8 million to battle the blaze being fought by 508 firefighters and personnel using four helicopters, 30 fire engines, two bulldozers and four water tenders.
A summer home and two outbuildings were destroyed in the early days of the fire, but no structures are currently threatened or injuries reported. Officials closed sections of I-15 July 7 and 8 when flames crossed the interstate and smoke choked the area.
Also ongoing is the Neola North fire, burning near Roosevelt in Ashley National Forest.
Fire officials didn’t expect the fire to grow much larger than the 43,800 acres consumed since beginning June 29. As of Friday, that fire was 83 percent contained.
An official cause of the Neola fire is under investigation.
The Greenville Bench fire, burning 6 miles southwest of Beaver, was 80 percent contained Sunday afternoon. The blaze began as a prescribed burn May 30 and escaped containment July 10. More than 14,600 acres have been scorched.