This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Crews expected to soon complete containment lines around a southern Utah blaze that had scorched nearly 2,500 acres of cheat grass, brush, pinyon and juniper trees.
The Roundabout Wildfire, which began Monday in the Horse Valley area 20 miles northwest of Cedar City, was 75 percent contained as of late Thursday afternoon. Fire Information Officer Mike Melton said full containment was expected by late Thursday evening or Friday morning.
"Things are going pretty well today," Melton said. "If they don't get it done [contained] tonight, they will tomorrow."
The fire is believed to have been human caused, but investigation into specifics continued, Melton said.
Closures remained in effect for the Kern River Pipeline, Lost Springs and Horse Valley roads, but no injuries or structure losses were reported.
About 90 firefighters, assisted by a fire-retardant laden air tanker and a water-bearing helicopter, were battling the blaze.
Melton said crews have been slowed through this week by the rough, steep and hard-to-access terrain of the Roundabout fire.