Blaze threatens towns

FOUNTAIN GREEN — The flames snaked across the hillsides, pushed closer and closer to this town by winds that whipped all around.

An airplane circled over a ranch house, surrounded by golden fields threatened by the fast-approaching fire. The plane turned, dived and then lifted up again. Behind it, a heavy air tanker repeated the same pattern.

The engines of the gigantic plane roared as it turned and then dived, dropping lines of bright red fire retardant around the pristine white home in an effort to save it.

Ash from the fire mixed with a few scattered raindrops on Sunday night as firefighters rushed along state Route 132 toward the home. In a caravan of engines and trucks, they turned onto a dirt road and raced toward the hills.

A short time later, a line of small flames was seen at the bottom of the foothills. In minutes, the flames were 30 feet high, charging up the slope and meeting the wildfire.

Firefighters set the backfires in an attempt to burn out the dry fuels and protect this central Utah town from being evacuated.

"They have a perfect opportunity to do this burn now," the U.S. Forest Service's Terry Krasko said as he watched firefighters set the series of backburns.

The Salt Creek fire continues to rage through Nephi Canyon, only 15 percent contained. So far, it has burned more than 18,502 acres. Heavy rain was reported in Sanpete County Sunday night.

Evacuees still out

Besides Fountain Green, Indianola remained threatened. The country subdivisions of Holiday Oaks, Elk Ridge and Oaker Hills have been evacuated.

"It's pretty scary," said Carol Coleson, who was evacuated from the Oaker Hills subdivision Saturday night.

As the flames marched closer, Coleson and her husband took their trailer, as well as those of friends and family, to safety. A short distance away, a pair of Sanpete County Sheriff's deputies manned a roadblock to the area.

Fire crews and deputies had closed off another road near Indianola as they prepared for the fire to turn toward the Sanpete town.

"Hopefully, they'll be able to stop it before it gets to our property," Coleson said.

Firefighting efforts