The fire that ravaged the town of Brian Head, Utah, is almost 75 percent contained as of Tuesday night. The fire burned through 67,000 thousand acres of land, which is approximately 106 square miles.
Evacuation orders have been lifted in Brian Head, a town where many Southern Nevadans have vacation homes. However, smaller communities are still waiting to return home.
Bree Burkitt has been covering the fire for the Spectrum newspaper in Cedar City.
"I just spoke to a fire official and he said some of the steps they're taking now are really indicative that they're nearing the end," she said.
The estimated containment date is still July 15 and they're planning to make that goal, Burkitt said. She said the fire crews have bulldozed a fire line on the northern portion of the fire, removing any trees or brush that could feed the fire. When it reaches that area, there is nowhere for it to go.
"Brian Head is back up and running," she said, "They're back in their summer tourist season and no one is in immediate danger at this point."
While most roads and communities are back open, Burkitt said 5 Mile and 3 Mile roads are still closed because of the fire activity.
Now that people can get back into their homes, the mission of the Red Cross as changed. Rick Woodruff, a spokesman for the organization, said when incidents like a fire first start, the organization focuses on people's immediate emergency needs like shelter and food. Now that the fire is more or less under control, they switch their focus.
"As people do return as the client services part or victims that we deal with needs go down, we switch more into recovery," he said, "What that means is we set up distribution sites and we distribute relief supplies, cleanup supplies free of charge."
The fire started June 17 when a person used a weed torch to burn some weeds in his yard. Burkitt said there is still no word on whether that person will be charged.
"At this point, the case has been forwarded to our local prosecutor's office," she said, "There is nothing official yet. They're looking at either an arson charge or a misdemeanor charge for reckless burning. Obviously, that will all boil down to intent."
Bree Burkitt, reporter, The Spectrum in Cedar City; Rick Woodruff, spokesman for American Red Cross, Utah and NV