Lightning-caused fire uncontained in Tooele County

As crews gained the upper hand on two human-caused wildfires, a lightning-started blaze was burning uncontained along rugged terrain in southern Tooele County on Saturday.

The 250-acre Sunshine Canyon fire started Friday in a canyon and was burning in bone-dry grass, sagebrush and juniper trees, fire information officer Erin Darboven said.

"Our biggest obstacle is just the terrain," Darboven said.

Flames were threatening some old mine structures in the area, but no houses have been evacuated. The nearest town, Cedar Fort, Utah County, is still 10 miles southwest of the flames, Darboven said.

The fire was expected to be contained by Monday, but officials were concerned that more thunderstorms could bring another spate of dry lightning strikes in the area.

"It's very dry. We've got record lows as far as fuel moisture levels. They're single digits," Darboven said.

Fire activity at the state's other two large wildfires in Farmington and the Henry Mountains near Hanksville, Wayne County, had calmed down, giving firefighters a much-needed respite.

The Farmington fire was 97 percent contained Saturday. Law enforcement officials say the blaze was started by a transient who used a lighter to ignite some dry grass July 10.

"We're just in a monitor status now, we no longer have a crew," fire information officer Kathy Jo Pollock said. Farmington Canyon was expected to remain closed through the weekend, Pollock said.

The 31,657-acre Bulldog fire, burning 20 miles south of Hanksville, was 50 percent contained Saturday morning, fire information officer Murray Shoemaker said. The blaze was started July 8 by sparks from an all-terrain vehicle. With fire conditions becoming more favorable, the number of crews working the blaze was expected to be reduced from nine to two, Shoemaker said. The number of helicopters fighting the fire also is expected to be reduced from three to one, he said.

"Things are calming down considerably," Shoemaker said. "People will still see smoke from the interior for quite some time."

Despite the increased containment of fires around the state, officials continued their warnings to recreationists who will be venturing into the state's tinder box conditions. Campfires are only allowed in developed campsites, and off-road vehicles should be used with care.

"Even pulling off on the side of the road can start a fire in grass," Darboven said.

Fire crews also worked through the night in Washington County hoping to quell the River fire, which started just after midnight Saturday on private land along the Virgin River, three miles east of Washington. The fire had burned 38 acres by noon Saturday, and fire crews were making good progress building containment lines, Bureau of Land Management public information officer David Boyd said.

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Contributing: Jennifer Dobner

E-mail: djensen@desnews.com