Nevada fire grows to 300 square miles

cnn ^ | July 31, 2006 | The Associated Press

[george76]

High wind hampered fire crews again Sunday as they fought a wildfire that had dashed across nearly 300 square miles of remote rangeland in northern Nevada.

The brush fire 50 miles northeast of Winnemucca had exploded from less than 30 square miles to 292 square miles since Thursday, making it one of the nation's biggest wildfires of the season, fire information officer Susan Marzec said.

"The fire is continuing to make its move because of gusty winds and dryness," Marzec said. "Every time we make headway we're back where we started."

The fire was just 5 percent contained, and no estimate was available on when it would be fully contained.

Wildfires continued to rage Sunday in the Nebraska Panhandle...

In Montana, a wildfire in the eastern part of Glacier National Park came within a mile of structures as strong winds hastened the fire's growth Sunday. The fire was 34 square miles, fire information officer Shannon Downey said.

Near Chelan, Washington, crews used explosives to create a barrier protecting the resort town of Stehekin from a 7-square-mile wildfire. Residents and visitors were warned to be ready to evacuate if necessary.