Weather helps quell fire in Vegas-area mountains
The Carpenter 1 fire burns in the mountains behind the Red Rock Conservation Area visitor center near Las Vegas early in the morning of Thursday, July 11, 2013. The fire has forced the closure of the Red Rock National Conservation Area Scenic Loop. Firefighters in the mountains near Las Vegas hoped Thursday that predicted rain showers and cooler temperatures would help them corral the massive wildfire that for 10 days charred almost 44 square miles and was still just 15 percent contained. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, John Locher)
LAS VEGAS >> Weather is helping to quell a wildfire now entering its third week in the mountains near Las Vegas.
Fire officials reported 95 percent containment Monday of the more than 43.5-square-mile Carpenter 1 fire.
About 125 personnel are getting help from overcast skies, light rain and daytime temperatures in the 60s at mountain ridge elevations about 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Residents returned several days ago to Mount Charleston hamlets and many hiking trails and picnic areas have reopened.
Incident commander Mark Redfox is calling the ongoing fire danger moderate.
He says firefighting strike teams remain near Kyle Canyon communities and Mountain Springs.
Two firefighters were hurt and six structures were lost to the blaze sparked by lightning July 1 in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.
