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SPRINGVILLE, Utah (AP) -- Light snow that fell Thursday had enough moisture to help firefighters get a handle on the Cherry Creek wildfire that has been burning almost a week.
Fire Information Officer Erin Darboven said 2 inches of snow fell in Hobble Creek Canyon, helping firefighters bring the Cherry Creek fire to 90 percent containment.
The fire has burned since Saturday, and has consumed about 5,700 acres.
The snow not only helped to douse the flames, but the shifting winds blew the fire back on itself and away from the homes where residents were put on alert.
Firefighters were brought off the mountain because of the snow, she said.
"We had to bring fire crews down into town for shelter in Springville and Provo because it was too cold," she said. "When the snow came in it was a little slippery for the firefighters on the slopes."
Helicopters on the mountain were unable to return to bases in the valley because of the snow, she said.
"They need certain conditions to fly in," she said. "We didn't have a lot of visibility so they're still up there."
About 300 firefighters fought the blaze, but those numbers were expected to be significantly reduced Friday when the locally-provided crews were to continue looking for hot spots, Darboven said.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
