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SUMMIT COUNTY — Fire officials said they have 50 percent of the Rockport fire contained, with 1,920 acres still burning.
Despite the gains made in fire control, 110 homes in the Rockport Ranches and Rockport Estates subdivisions are still evacuated.
Firefighter and Rockport resident Dave Miller said he was worried about the proximity of homes to the fire.
"It was really close. Too close for comfort," Miller said.
Miller spent the four days fighting the fire and even though he said he's tired, he also said he's not going to stop until the flames are out.
"It got within about four feet of my deck. It burned my trampoline and there's some singed parts on my deck," Miller said.
"We had some close calls," North Summit Fire Chief Ken Smith said.
We had some close calls.
–Ken Smith
Smith said ‘defensible space', or the area with less natural fuel for the fire to consume, is responsible for saving many of the unburned homes.
"You look at some of these houses and you'll see a house that had a defensible space, without oak brush growing up to it. It's still there," Smith said.
Fire crews said defensible space isn't a guarantee a house will be saved, but it helps.
The Cella family recently cleared oak brush and trees from around their home. After the fire moved on the house was still standing.
"Our home was so close to being burned down. When we saw it...it was humbling," said Judy Cella.
