Red flag warning: More wildfires could spark today

Thunderstorms moving across Utah could spark up more wildfires today.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for a large part of the state, meaning extreme fire conditions could occur if another blaze were to start. The red flag warning is in effect until 10 tonight.

"We're expecting dry lightning for a lot of the state," said Christine Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.

Dry lightning is not expected in areas from Davis County north, or in the Wasatch Mountains above I-80. Portions of Utah not under a red flag warning include Utah's Dixie and areas of south-central Utah from Kanab to Lake Powell.

"There's going to be more moisture with the thunderstorms down there," Smith said.

As the storms move across Utah, firefighters are bracing for trouble on the 329,100-acre Milford Flat Fire, burning in central Utah's Millard and Beaver counties. The lightning-sparked fire is now 30 percent contained, and crews were working to keep it away from I-15.

Behind today's forecasted storms is a weekend forecast of hot and dry conditions. The sizzling temperatures are expected to continue into next week.

"I don't see any relief in sight," Smith said.

In other wildfires burning around Utah:

• The 1,731-acre Mathis Fire burning near the Carbon County town of Kenilworth is now 20 percent contained. The fire is still threatening coal and methane mines in the area, but fire officials said no evacuations are planned.

• A change in management is coming for the 43,806-acre Neola North Fire burning in eastern Utah. Effective Thursday, firefighters will be pulled off the blaze, which is now 83 percent contained.

Fire crews today said they plan to work the north flank of the fire in the Ashley National Forest. Firefighters are also mopping up hotspots in the area. The fire's cause is under investigation, focusing on a power pole near the town of Neola. The fire has cost more than $7.2 million to suppress.

• About 20 miles southwest of St. George, the Black Rock Gulch Fire is now listed at 19,542 acres. Fire officials said more accurate mapping has shrunk the fire in size. The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain which allows it to spread rapidly, the Bureau of Land Management said today.

The fire is threatening several ranch buildings, a fire lookout tower and radio repeaters. Crews today will be building firelines to begin setting smaller fires in hopes of burning part of the Black Rock Gulch Fire out. Road closures near a gypsum mine are in effect.

---

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com