This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A stubborn southwestern Utah wildfire continued to burn on Independence Day, but was 42 percent contained.
The Saddle Fire, which was sparked by lightning on June 13, had burned 1,640 acres as of Monday, Dixie National Forest fire officials said in a news release. The fire is in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness area near the community of Pine Valley and had threatened numerous homes.
As of Monday, fire officials had lifted voluntary evacuation recommendations for all but some portions of Lloyd Canyon.
Officials have scheduled a 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday at the Pine Valley fire station to update the community on fire operations, according to the news release.
Aided by rain, crews made gains on the fire over the weekend and on Monday continued to build lines around the blaze to stop it from spreading south and east, officials said.
Mop-up work was also being done on the north and west perimeters of the fire area.
As of Monday, 279 firefighters and other personnel worked the fire, using engines with engines, heavy equipment and aircraft.
Another fire sprouted up in Weber Canyon on Monday afternoon. The blaze, started by a spark from a train, was at 30 acres and 7 percent contained by 9 p.m. Monday. About 70 firefighters worked to contain the fire as it traveled uphill, temporarily closing one westbound lane of Interstate 84 near mile marker 90 for helicopter access.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Brandon Whitehead said crews are now in a "watch and see mode" as the blaze is "not violently burning, but it is smoldering good." It will likely take two to four days to contain, he said.