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Utah Wildfire Grows As 2 Powerful California Blazes Spread

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The nation's largest wildfire has forced more than 1,500 people from their homes and cabins in a Southern Utah mountain area home to a ski town and popular fishing lake.

Firefighters battled high winds as they fought a fire that has grown to 72 square miles and burned 13 homes — larger than any other fire in the country now.

Officials say that fire crews are expected to face dry, windy conditions Tuesday and a "high potential" for extreme fire behavior.

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They say the estimated firefighting costs now top $7 million for a fire started June 17 near the Brian Head Resort by someone using a torch tool to burn weeds.

Crews in California, meanwhile, are dealing with two new powerful and fast-growing fires.