This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated.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 fighting a 43,610-acre wildfire in the Cedar Mountain Wilderness Area on Thursday began partial demobilization as they neared full-containment of the lightning-sparked blaze.
Fire information officer Cami Lee said the flames of the Dallas Canyon Wildfire were 95 percent contained as of 8 p.m. Thursday, and the 223 remaining firefighters — down from more than 360 on Wednesday — were expected to declare full containment Friday, or Saturday at the latest, barring any flare-ups.
Aided by two water-bearing helicopters, crews were combining environmental rehabilitation work with mopping up of remaining hot spots within the fire area of mostly grass, brush and juniper 10 miles southwest of the east Tooele County community of Delle. The fire began on July 27.
Crews earlier this week declared full containment of two other fires likely sparked by lightning: the Ibapah Fire, which scorched 1,800 acres along the Utah-Nevada border near the town of Ibapah, and the 200-acre Slate Jack Fire, four miles northeast of Eureka.
Fire crews were also near containment of another lightning caused blaze: the 410-acre North Hills Wildfire, which was burning two miles northwest of the Washington County town of Enterprise. The fire was about 75 percent contained Thursday evening, with full containment expected Friday. The blaze began at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Flames initially threatened a radio tower and four homes, but Howell said no structures were damaged.
Fire information officer Nick Howell described the fire's behavior Thursday as "minimal, smoldering and creeping" through cheat grass fuels, but said it appeared about 90 firefighters were making good progress in closing containment lines.