Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- A wildfire on grasslands near the Utah border spread another 2,000 acres, but fire officials say the blaze is under control.
The Cow Canyon fire started Wednesday on public land northwest of Snowville, Utah, and burned about 17 square miles by Thursday.
Officials now estimate the number of scorched acres at about 21 square miles.
But Forest Service spokeswoman Joanna Wilson says unless gusty winds forecast for the area tomorrow create problems, fire crews will slowly be released from the scene. About 200 firefighters were dispatched to the scene.
So far, the Cow Canyon fire is the biggest in a fire season experts say is starting a month ahead of normal.
Officials say the fire originated when a vehicle's catalytic converter ignited dry grass.
The vehicle was being driven by a Bureau of Land Management employee who was spraying in the area for noxious weeds.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
