This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Two of the state's largest lightning-caused wildfires were all but out on Wednesday as crews focused on mopping up hot spots and watching for any new flare-ups.
Crews on the 31,010-acre Patch Springs Fire in Tooele County, and the nearly 30,000-acre State Fire along the Utah-Idaho border, reported benefitting from cooler night-time temperatures and higher humidity brought to the region by a cycle of thunderstorms and rain showers.
That fire had died down considerably Wednesday morning after having blackened large swatches of juniper, sagebrush and timber south, west and east of Deseret Peak and on the Goshute Indian Reservation in Tooele County's Skull Valley.
The State Fire was 95 percent contained Wednesday and crews were being demobilized as efforts focused on mopping up hot spots flaring up within the high desert area within northern Utah's Box Elder County and southern Idaho's Pocatello Valley.
A declaration of full containment was expected by Sunday night.
Crews continued to slog toward taming the nearly 2,900-acre Millville Fire in Cache County. It was still officially 65 percent contained. As of Wednesday morning, all restrictions and evacuations for Blacksmith Fork, Millville and Left Hand Fork canyons had been lifted.
Meanwhile, the 222 Fire, which burned 1,576 acres of timber and grass 15 miles southwest of the Juab County town of Eureka, was declared 100 percent contained Tuesday night.
Twitter: @remims —
Utah consumer advocates warn wildfire victims to avoid scams
O A warning to victims of Utah's recent wildfires: Don't get burned a second time.
Disasters have a way of attracting scam artists and state consumer protection officials say the public should be on the lookout for bogus repair services or charity campaigns.
The alert comes in the wake of Summit County's Rockport 5 Fire, which destroyed eight homes, and seven other major wildfires in the past month.
In a statement, Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, said no wildfire-related scams have been reported to the state thus far.
To avoid getting duped by wildfire-related scams, consumers should:
Make sure that any contractor offering fire repair services is licensed with the state. You can also check to see if the individual or company has a track record of complaints by calling 801-530-6626 or visiting dopl.utah.gov.
Get contracts in writing and don't fall for high-pressure sales pitches.
Check out charities and fundraisers before donating and only donate to organizations with a track record.
Don't pay with cash.
If you suspect a scam or want to file a complaint, call 801-530-6601 or visit consumerprotection.utah.gov.