From Deseret News archives:

Firefighters gain a bit

Blaze: It's 30% contained; north, south edges raging

Published: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:02 a.m. MDT
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"I'll be all day working on those," Yardley said Tuesday evening. "I also don't know how much water the (firefighting) helicopters dipped out of the ponds to see how much water is left."

Michael Rutherford has been avoiding the ruins of his gift shop, the Dog Valley Trading Post in Cove Fort, located in a historic log cabin that was more than 100 years old when it burned to the ground Saturday.

"It's kind of depressing to be out there," he said. "There was basically nothing to save. Everything was gone."

For the past five years, Rutherford has sold jewelry, pottery, knives and toys — mostly handcrafted by members of the Hopi, Creek, Shoshoni, Piute and Navajo Indian nations. He estimates he lost between $40,000 and $55,0000 in uninsured merchandise in the cabin, which he leased.

Rutherford is no stranger to wildfires. Last year, the 28,000-acre Dog Valley fire marched so close to his store he was certain it was going to go up in flames.

"This year we didn't have any notice," he said, describing one moment when the fire was on the west side of I-15 and the next when it was at his store's door.

Rutherford would like to open the store again but is unsure if he will.

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"Because the land is owned by one group of people and the cabin is owned by another group, we don't know what is going to happen," he said.



E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com; sfidel@desnews.com

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A heavy-lift sky crane helicopter drops water on flames as fire crews battle the huge Milford Flat fire in central Utah west of Sulphurdale, Beaver County. Tinder-dry conditions and scorching heat have hindered the battle.

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