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As the Brian Head Fire moved toward Panguitch Lake on Wednesday, authorities told residents in the area to evacuate immediately, giving Doug Ferguson just a short time to grab his medicine and animals.

He was able to get the pets — a cat named Kitty and a Labrador retriever named Drake — into his vehicle but couldn't find his chicken before time ran out and he had to leave, Ferguson said. The chicken has access to food and water so he's hopeful she'll be OK, he said.

Ferguson and many of his neighbors went to a nearby LDS Church, where he stayed overnight in the parking lot on Wednesday before driving north.

"The cat and dog and I slept in the car," he said Sunday from his stepson's home in Clearfield. "A lot of people camped out there all night long."

As of Sunday, evacuation orders remained in place for Panguitch Lake, Horse Valley, Beaver Dam, Castle Valley, Blue Springs, Rainbow Meadows, Mammoth Creek, Dry Lakes, Second Left Hand Canyon and the town of Brian Head.

The fire increased slightly from 40,148 acres on Saturday to 42,800 by Sunday and was 10 percent contained by the evening, according to a news release. Firefighters had in their favor additional resources that included a Type 1 incident management team — a squad with the highest level of experience — and cooler temperatures.

Iron County Emergency Management on Saturday identified it as the largest active wildfire in the nation. Officials estimate it won't be fully contained until July 5.

So far, 13 residences and eight outbuildings have been destroyed by the fire, which ignited about noon June 17 in Brian Head.

Ferguson said he feels blessed that the fire did not reach his home, which was built in 1971.

"I feel so sorry for the ones who lost their homes," he added.