Rainy aftermath helps crews close lines on Stansbury Island fire

Aided by a series of rain showers that dampened potential fuels, crews Wednesday closed containment lines around a wildfire on Stansbury Island that had scorched nearly 6,000 acres of high desert grass and brush.

Sparked by lighting Monday, the Shanty Canyon Fire was 25 percent contained as of dawn Wednesday, according to Cami Lee, a fire information officer for the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM reported that the fire was fully contained at about 9 p.m Wednesday.

About 20 firefighters, assisted by several water-bearing helicopters, saw the once fast-moving blaze slowed to a smoldering crawl as thunderstorms moved through northern Utah on Tuesday and overnight.

"It is on really steep, rugged terrain so it's been slow going for our firefighters," Lee said.

No injuries have been reported and no structures have been lost to the fire burning on the rugged but unpopulated 11.5-mile long, 4.5-mile wide island.

Stansbury Island has no permanent human settlements but is popular as a hiking and mountain biking destination. It also is used as a summer grazing site for sheep.

remims@sltrib.com