RAIN HELPS EASE THREAT IN UTAH FIRES.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Fire crews got a break Wednesday evening when cooler temperatures and rain diminished the threat of a Utah wildfire that burned perilously close to a three explosives plants. Similar conditions also lessened concerns over a 45,000-acre fire threatening the tiny desert community of Lofgren, Utah, fire officials said. Elsewhere in the West, firefighters made progress against stubborn fires that have charred tens of thousands of acres of forest land in Arizona. They worked to contain wildfires in Nevada, California, New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and Alaska. In Utah, the Soldier Pass fire at Lake Mountain on the west side of Utah Lake Utah Lake, c.145 sq mi (380 sq km), N central Utah; largest freshwater lake in the state. It drains through the Jordan River to the Great Salt Lake. Utah Lake is what remains of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville. threatened three explosives plants located within five miles of one another, said Utah County fire marshal fire marshal n. 1. The head of a department or office that is charged with the prevention and investigation of fires. 2. A person in charge of firefighting personnel and equipment at an industrial plant. Noun 1. Tom Wroe. But cooler evening temperatures and a light sprinkle gave firefighters a breather as evening fell. ``Things are looking really good right now,'' said Loyal Clark, public information officer for the Uinta National Forest Uinta National Forest is a national forest located in Utah. It was originally part of the Uinta Forest Reserve, created by Grover Cleveland on February 2, 1897. The name is derived from the Ute word Yoov-we-teuh which means pine forest. . ``We're still saying there is a potential threat to the plants, but the danger is no longer imminent.'' The fire was closest - about a half-mile - to the unoccupied Cook Slurry Co. plant. Company owner Merrill Cook Merill Cook (born May 6, 1946) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah. Cook, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[1] was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. said the plant was constructed to withstand fire, with underground tanks and large natural firebreaks. ``Obviously you don't want to see a fire go up to your gate,'' Cook said. ``But we configured our plant to be able to handle something like this.'' |
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