By MIKE STARK
Associated Press Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Threats to a southwestern Utah town from a destructive wildfire are easing, fire officials said Wednesday.
The fire near New Harmony flared up over the weekend and destroyed 11 buildings, including three homes.
The Mill Flat fire near New Harmony had burned more than 19.6 square miles and was 33 percent contained.
Fire officials said they're confident in a fire line that's been established between the fire and New Harmony and its surrounding community.
Cooler temperatures in the coming days should allow crews to make significant progress on containing the blaze, said Vicki Tyler, a fire spokeswoman.
Residents in New Harmony and the surrounding area are now free to come and go, Tyler said, but those that don't need to be in the area should stay away to lessen congestion for fire crews, Tyler said.
Fire teams on the ground spent much of Wednesday working on the fire's southern flank while helicopters dropped water and retardant on the flames.
Elsewhere, fire officials were using calmer conditions Wednesday to make gains on several other fires burning in the state.
Near Scipio, the Sawmill Canyon fire has burned more than 10 square miles and is 50 percent contained. Three airplanes spent much of the day dousing flames while crews tried to secure fire lines on the ground.
The fire moved quickly Tuesday in windy conditions, jumping a highway and briefly knocking out power in parts of Millard County.
Light rain fell on the area Wednesday afternoon and fire bosses hoped to use cooler weather to their advantage, according to Lisa Reid, a fire spokeswoman.
A 250-acre fire near Scofield Reservoir is expected to be fully contained in the next day or two.
About 17 miles northwest of Huntington, 20 people are fighting the Tie Fork fire that has burned about 1.2 square miles and prompted the closure of several roads and trails in the area.
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On the Net:
http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
