July 7, 1999
Web posted at: 12:53 a.m. EDT (0453 GMT)

In this story: New fires in Southern California RELATED STORIES, SITES

SAN BERNARDINO, California (CNN) -- Fire crews scrambled to contain brush fires in four Western states that have burned more than 83,000 acres in the past week.

The largest fire, a 61,400 acre Utah blaze, drove residents from their homes some 55 miles south of Salt Lake City over the weekend, although only three abandoned shacks burned.

The wind-fanned fire began in grass along railroad tracks and spread quickly into steep mountain areas after an 11,000- gallon diesel truck exploded.

Brush fires broke out Tuesday afternoon in San Bernardino

No one was injured, and fire officials expected to have the fire fully contained by Wednesday.

Containment was also expected soon for a fire that destroyed nearly 8,000 acres in eastern Utah and western Colorado. No injuries were reported.

In western Nevada, erratic winds fanned a 12,000-acre brush fire that threatened an interstate, which remained open.

"There's a lot of snakes and insects we've had to watch out for," said Dave Marion, a U.S. Forest Service crew chief.

In Northern California, a controlled federal burn that became a 2,000-acre wildfire on Friday was mostly contained. Two dozen homes in the mountain hamlet of Lewiston were damaged, at a loss of $1.6 million.

Smoke fills the air as the fire spreads in San Bernardino

Meanwhile, California firefighters also were battling two brush fires burning out of control in two unincorporated areas of the San Bernardino area, including one that was moving ever closer to residential homes.

The larger of the two fires -- the Elliott Fire -- was threatening an unknown number of homes in the Summit Truck Trail area, causing the evacuation of residents, said Karen McKinley, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

The Elliott fire has consumed approximately 1,000 acres since it started around 2:15 p.m. PT (5:15 p.m. ET) Tuesday, and one structure -- unidentified by authorities -- has been lost. Firefighters named the fire after a local ranch known as the Elliott Ranch.

Firefighters hose down hot spots in Utah

McKinley described the area as an unincorporated hill community, with small ranch-style homes. Dry chaparral type brush -- what McKinley called "really good little fire carriers" -- covers the hillsides."

Winds at about 15 to 18 mph accompanied flames that continued to burn in a northerly direction.

The U.S. Forest Service is utilizing 15 fire engines, four hand crews, four water tenders and two helicopters to combat the blaze.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

A second, smaller fire was burning out of control near a power house in Lytle Creek Canyon, but was not threatening that structure or any other buildings.

The Power fire, as it is called, has burned 110 acres since it started at approximately 1:55 p.m. PT (4:55 p.m. ET), and authorities believe some sort of vehicle fire ignited the blaze.

The Elliott and Power fires are burning approximately 10 miles apart from each other in San Bernardino County.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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