Parowan Canyon open; Brian Head blaze 65% contained – Deseret News

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

FILE - Homes that were spared from the Brian Head Fire are pictured on Friday, June 30, 2017.

BRIAN HEAD, Iron County Crews fighting the Brian Head Fire had contained 65 percent of the wildfire late Saturday.

The human-caused fire has burned more than 60,300 acres since it roared to life 14 days ago.

Parowan Canyon also opened Saturday. Brian Head and Dry Lakes residents and visitors can return via state Route 143 from Parowan to Brian Head or along state Route 14 through Cedar Breaks National Monument.

While evacuation orders have been lifted at Brian Head and the Dry Lake area, more than 1,800 firefighters continue to battle the blaze heading northeast.

Several areas remained under evacuation orders Saturday: Upper Bear Valley, Horse Valley, Beaver Dam, Clear Creek, Castle Valley, Blue Springs, Rainbow Meadows and Second Left Hand Canyon.

Fire officials said crews made "significant progress" toward containing the fire Friday.

"Thanks in large part to lighter winds, fire behavior has been reduced," fire officials said in a prepared statement. "Some isolated tree torching occurred, but crews had a successful day directly suppressing the fire perimeter and mopping up hot spots around the communities at risk."

Saturday, firefighters continued working on cleanup and planning on contingencies in case of any fire perimeter growth.

"Dozers have been used extensively in the northeastern flank of the fire where there is little containment," fire officials said. "Increasing containment has allowed numerous resources from the west side of the fire to be transferred to the northern perimeter, where most of the fire growth has occurred in the past three days."

Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire perimeter around the town of Brian Head and Second Hand Canyon.

The Dixie National Forest has also closed access to lands north of S.R. 14.

Fire officials encouraged visitors to check their route before planning any recreational activities for the Fourth of July weekend.

Maps of closed areas are posted on the federal fire incident website at http://www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.

Contributing: Ashley Stilson

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Parowan Canyon open; Brian Head blaze 65% contained - Deseret News