From Deseret News archives:
Evacuation order lifted for Salt Creek fire
The Sanpete County Sheriff said residents in Oaker Hills, Indian Ridge, Elk Ridge and Mount Baldy Estates in the Indianola Valley will be allowed to return today.
"There was no damage to these previously evacuated areas," Sanpete County Sheriff's Lt. Robert Braithwaite said in a statement. "The Sheriff's Office is appreciative for the tremendous efforts of all the firefighters, including the volunteers, fighting the fire from the air and on the ground."
Road closures in the area remain in effect. Those include portions of Big Hollow Road and Water Hollow Road.
Firefighters have made good progress battling the 23,644-acre Salt Creek fire. It is now 35-percent contained.
The Southern Area Incident Management Team, which is in charge of the firefighting effort, said today that the fire is not expected to grow unless drier weather moves into the area. Thunderstorms have helped firefighters, who continue to focus their efforts on the south and east portions of the blaze near the Sanpete County towns of Fountain Green and Indianola.
Rains have helped other wildfires across the state, but also created new problems. Homes near Grantsville were flooded when mud and debris from areas burned out by the 14,292-acre Kimbell fire ran down state Route 138.
"The water is filled with soot and ash and burnt sagebrush," Grantsville Police Sgt. Steve Barrett said. "Some washes haven't had water in 50 years and they were full."
The Kimbell fire is now 100 percent contained.
Elsewhere, crews are making progress in snuffing out wildfires:
• Firefighters have managed to contain the Locomotive Springs fire, which has burned 2,000 acres in Box Elder County near the Great Salt Lake. The rains also helped firefighters get containment on the 1,100 acre Hansel Flats fire, burning in the same area.
• For crews battling the 153,970-acre Winecup Complex fire burning on the Utah-Nevada border, the rain has helped them reach 65-percent containment.
• The Sleepy Hollow fire near Hyrum is 40-percent contained at more than 890 acres. Homes along Hollow Road in Nibley and state Route 101 in Hyrum remain threatened.
• The Neola North Fire burning in eastern Utah is getting closer to containment. The Ashley National Forest last reported it 83-percent contained.
• The Dakota Hills Complex fire burning in Zion National Park is now 81 percent contained. Evacuation orders for homes in Kane County have been lifted.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
