The Polly's Peak fire has swept through pinyon and juniper in northern Sanpete County, threatening six cabins and reigniting a fire season that most firefighters thought was over.

The cabins received some reprieve Sunday as bulldozers scraped away vegetation and air tankers dropped retardant to create a buffer between them and the blaze. About 48 firefighters chased the fire through steep and rocky terrain Sunday with single-engine air tankers and a helicopter battling it from above. Officials said the fire has not threatened the nearby community of Fountain Green.

The fire comes at a troublesome time for wildland firefighters, many of whom have returned to school or to other jobs thinking the fire season is over. By late September, the fire season generally cools and people go home, said And Falsetto, spokeswoman for the Interagency Fire Center.

Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire, but said a person likely was to blame. They noted that vegetation remains "very dry" in Sanpete County and warned residents to take caution when recreating outdoors.

- Jeremiah Stettler