FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Firefighters combating the 3,000-acre Taylor wildfire southwest of Flagstaff, Ariz., said Tuesday they had achieved 10 percent containment.
Some 505 fire crew members working in the parched Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area 22 miles southwest of Flagstaff were aided by calmer overnight winds, which also prevented the fire's thick smoke from wafting into the city, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.
The newspaper said that among the equipment deployed against the blaze were four air tankers, three helicopters, three small airplanes and numerous bulldozers, as well as "hotshot" crews -- specially trained teams from the U.S. Forest Service.
Meanwhile, Utah firefighters from three counties were battling fires in two adjoining canyons that started Monday, one in Mapleton Canyon and the other in Hobble Creek Canyon in Springville, Utah. Utah County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bennett told the Salt Lake Tribune 50 acres were burning in Mapleton Canyon while 150 to 200 acres were on fire in Hobble Creek Canyon.
And in California, the Los Angeles Times reported more than 4,100 firefighters were making progress late Monday against wildfires in Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara counties, both of which were approaching 80 percent containment.
