Fire closes I-15, threatens a town

ST. GEORGE — Dry winds and hot temperatures continued to hamper firefighters Sunday as they battled two major blazes, including one that threatened a small town and again closed I-15.

Today's forecast for the St. George area called for more wind and sunny conditions with highs in the upper 90s.

The lightning-caused Blue Springs Fire consumed more than 8,000 acres within the Dixie National Forest on the west side of I-15, forcing the Utah Highway Patrol to close down the freeway in both directions several times Sunday.

"It's a waiting game. We watch the flames on the ridge up there and hope the line holds," said UHP Lt. David Excell, as he looked toward the western slope of a steep hillside across the freeway at the Pintura exit.

I-15 was closed between 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday, forcing hundreds of motorists to make alternate plans. Dozens of semitrailer trucks were parked overnight along frontage roads in the St. George area after the freeway was closed, and motel rooms were hard to come by.

St. George Police Sgt. Rich Farnsworth said the department chose not to ask truckers to move their rigs since the drivers had "no other choice" than to park where they could.

Clair Jolley, Bureau of Land Management line operations supervisor at the Pintura location, said his crews were standing ready to protect a single home tucked away in the pine trees. Firefighters also cut numerous firebreaks and kept hot spots from reigniting once the active fire passed an area.

Heavy air tankers continued to make aerial passes over the flames, dumping fire retardant along the fire lines. Several massive power lines in the path of the Blue Springs Fire were burned, although Jolley said the power had already been diverted.

A helicopter carrying a water bladder also flew overhead.

Several miles away, on the west side of the county, the Westside Complex Fire consumed another 10,000 acres overnight and into Sunday, bringing its total to 68,264 acres.

"We made some good progress against the Westside," said David Boyd, BLM fire information officer. Boyd said winds calmed Sunday in the area, helping the firefighting effort considerably. That fire, also caused by lightning, is 70 percent contained and is expected to be fully contained at some point on Tuesday.

The evacuation order for folks living in Gunlock also was lifted on Sunday, allowing those who left the town of 200 residents to return home.

Residents of New Harmony could face the same kind of evacuation order, however, if the Blue Springs Fire continues its northern push, Boyd said.

Lea Twitchell and her family were told to leave their New Harmony home if flames reached a ridgetop three miles away.