NEOLA — A large column of smoke is predicted to darken the skies this afternoon as the hot sun beats down on the Neola North Fire.
Meanwhile, fire officials have ordered more resources for this fire, including additional firefighters and more helicopters as efforts shift into the high timber of the Ashley National Forest.
The wildfire has grown to more than 40,000 acres, Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., told reporters today. He toured the burned out areas surrounding this eastern Utah community by helicopter this afternoon.
"It's a frightening sight," the governor said after being briefed on the fire by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, which is in charge of the massive firefighting effort.
Escorted by the Utah National Guard, the governor arrived in a convoy of Humvees. He spoke briefly to local authorities before getting a private briefing.
The fire is about 10 percent contained and is being fought by more than 700 firefighters supported by air tankers and helicopters. Authorities estimate it has cost between $2 and $3 million to fight. Crews are reporting some progress in keeping the blaze away from the communities of Whiterocks and Farm Creek. Protecting the homes from burning remains the top priority.
Many evacuees are still angry that they haven't been able to return home.
Mary Chivers came to the incident command post hoping to find out when she would be allowed to go home. Fire officials said it would be tonight or Wednesday at the earliest.
"My sister's house is on the ground. It's totally ... and our neighbors, they lost everything," she sobbed. "Mr. Roberson lost his life."
Local authorities said they were unsure on the exact number of homes and other structures destroyed by the fire. W.T. Chivers said a neighbor, who didn't want to be named, fought the evacuation order and stayed behind, battling the blaze and saving numerous homes.
"He's our hero," Chivers said.
Members of the Ute tribe have been assisting firefighters in also protecting culturally sensitive areas of the reservation as crews work to dig fire lines and battle the blaze. The tribal council today took a tour of some of the devastated areas.
The Neola North Fire could grow as strong winds move into the Uintah Basin over the next few days. No firefighters have been injured, save for one crew that was sent back from the fire lines with severely blistered feet.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and authorities again refused to discuss any possible causes. The FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service investigators and local police huddled this afternoon in a trailer for some time but would not say if they had determined a cause for the fire.