Salt Creek fire still a threat

NEPHI — Three subdivisions south of Indianola remained under evacuation orders Wednesday as the Salt Creek fire continued burning in the mountains near Nephi.

The wildfire, which started a week ago, has destroyed two cabins, three professional buildings, nine trailers, one motor home and two sheds. Two hundred structures remained threatened by the fire Wednesday, though officials did not expect the blaze to significantly increase in size.

"We're feeling real confident that this fire's going to stay where it's at," said fire information officer Bobby Kitchens.

So far, the fire has killed about 70 sheep and burned 23,644 acres of sage, juniper and cheatgrass, as well as conifer, aspen and fir trees. The acreage estimate includes land firefighters intentionally set on fire Tuesday in their efforts to stop the blaze.

After nearly a week of harsh punishment, Mother Nature gave firefighting teams here a break Wednesday. Between one-tenth of an inch and one inch of rain had fallen on the blaze by late afternoon, fire information officer Mike Johnson said. Crews had reached 35 percent containment by the time fire officials gave their evening briefing. Fire conditions regarding the amount of water in fuels had also drastically improved, and rain was pouring by sundown.

Despite the rain, the Elk Ridge, Indian Ridge and Oaker Hills neighborhoods remained under evacuation orders. The homes, some of which are miles away from the closest structures, sit to the west of a mountain already burned by the blaze. The fire did not crest a ridge firefighters were concerned about, so blackened land is not visible from the evacuated homes.

Sanpete County Sheriff Kevin Holman told fire officials Wednesday night he is considering lifting the evacuation by this morning. He will use information collected during an infrared flight to make his decision.

Terry Olsen of St. George owns a summer home in the Elkridge area. He has been staying in his trailer, parked in a friend's yard in Fountain Green, since the evacuation orders were placed.

Olsen is holding on to the hope that the flames didn't reach his five-acre plot. However, the whole mountain is a tinderbox, he said.

"If it missed us this time, is it going to get us before the end of the year?" he asked.