Firefighters Prepare To Battle Utah Wildfire North Of St. George

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- Firefighters got ready to battle a 50-acre blaze burning in a rugged area 10 miles north of St. George.

The Red Mountain Fire, burning in brush and juniper on rolling slopes, likely started Tuesday evening but did not begin actively burning until Wednesday afternoon, said David Boyd, Bureau of Land Management fire information officer.

Two single-engine air tankers made numerous retardant drops.

A small crew was taken in by helicopter Wednesday to prepare helicopter landing areas so 70 firefighters could be brought in Thursday, he said.