This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Crews were counting on a cold, dry weather front to help them turn the corner on southern Utah's 1,112-acre Hicks Creek Fire as the weekend nears.
Fire Information Office Jason Curry said the blaze, burning about 4 miles southeast of Cedar City, began Thursday at 37 percent containment.
The fire, which initially forced evacuation of three homes, was whipped by high winds last Sunday afternoon from the embers of a previous controlled burn on private property.
Flames quickly spread through juniper, timber, grass and brush on adjacent Bureau of Land Management, federal and state forest lands.
On Thursday, 271 firefighters worked to douse hot spots and improve fire breaks. Curry estimated full containment by early Monday morning.
Due to the steep, rugged terrain prevalent throughout the fire area, much of the effort continued to ride with water-bearing helicopters and fire retardant dumping air tankers.
While active edges and flaring interior spots were attacked from above, ground crews worked to tighten lines around the perimeter of the blaze.
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