Big waves of fire: Teams fight as blaze keeps shifting

BIG HOLLOW, Sanpete County — The smoke moved through the pinyon juniper trees like mist Monday.

Suddenly, it all changed.

Hot flames shot up, crackling as the Salt Creek fire fed off the dry sage, cheatgrass and trees. Columns of dark, choking smoke rose into the sky, covering the sun and bathing everything in a dark, orange hue.

"All units, heads up! Looks like we've had a little wind shift. It's going to start pushing our line," a firefighter's voice said over the radio.

The fire moved dangerously close to the road, just a few miles from the town of Fountain Green. Smaller fires started spotting up ahead of the blaze, started by hot ash and embers pushed by the winds.

The flames moved like ocean waves toward the road. As firefighters shouted commands over the radio, crews in engines and trucks pulled up. Firefighters raced to get ahead of the fire, trying to prevent it from crossing the road.

"Watch your back!" one firefighter said over the radio. "The rate of spread is picking up!"

Crews worked on beating back the fire. The grinding noise of bulldozers could be heard, building stronger fire lines to keep the wildfire at bay.

Then, some good news came over the radio.

"The winds shifted. They're in our favor," the voice said.

Overhead, several airplanes twisted through the smoke columns, their engines roaring as they buzzed low over the fire. They laid down lines of retardant as crews tried to get out of the way.

Some people weren't quick enough.

"We've been slimed!" Terry Krasko said as it rained droplets of bright red retardant, covering plants, the road, cars and people.

Firefighter Eddie Taylor walked down the road, thoroughly "slimed." He was happy. They'd beat the fire back into the black — areas already burned.

"That helped when the wind shifted," Taylor said. "We've got a line all the way across. Now, if we can hold it."

Making progress

The Salt Creek fire had burned more than 21,251 acres between Nephi and Fountain Green as of Monday night. Fire officials said it was 20 percent contained.