DATIL, N.M. (AP) -- Making their way through dense pockets of fuel, firefighters on Monday worked toward 100 percent containment of a wildfire that has burned through nearly 200 acres in the Cibola National Forest.
``We've made extraordinarily good progress,'' fire information officer Jon Kohn said Monday. ``... We expect to have all the hot fuels cooled up to 200 feet from the edge of the fire line by tonight.''
Students who had been evacuated from the nearby Mohave Academy because of the Davenport Fire were being allowed to return Monday.
The lightning-sparked fire was burning on a ridge about 1,000 feet above the academy. Hotshot crews worked Sunday to reduce the fire's threat to the academy as well as the Davenport Lookout and communication towers in the area. The fire wasn't threatening the camp, thanks to a substantial fire line between the flames and the camp.
Firefighters on Sunday built lines around the edges of the blaze while water-dropping helicopters hit hot spots within the fire's interior. On Monday, one helicopter remained on the fire, which was 70 percent contained early in the day.
Crews also were watching the skies closely, hoping that a chance of afternoon thunderstorms would bring the fire's first sprinkle of rain without winds or dry lightning.
A few resources, such as two water-dropping helicopters, were released for other fires Sunday. Some 225 firefighters were working on the blaze Monday.
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