Higher humidity and some rain Tuesday helped firefighters in the battle with a massive wildfire burning in Idaho and Nevada, one of dozens of large fires still burning across the West. Forecasters warned that scattered dry thunderstorms could move into the region Wednesday afternoon which could spark additional fires.

As firefighters made progress on the nearly 600,000-acre Murphy Complex wildfire, the last of the evacuation orders was lifted Tuesday for the small town of Jarbidge, Nev. The most active part of the fire was in Nevada, where five other fires were burning. At the Idaho-Nevada border, the Duck Valley Indian Reservation remained without power for another day after the fire burned utility poles last week. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribe declared a state of emergency for the reservation.

More firefighters – now totaling about 730 - were brought in to battle the blaze which was 20 percent contained. Officials said they expected full containment Aug. 4.

Nationwide, 42 large wildfires were reported burning in 11 states on Tuesday covering nearly 1.5 million acres, the National Interagency Fire Center reported. In the West, fires were burning in California, Utah, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. The Murphy Complex fire was one of 14 blazes in Idaho that have scorched more than 840,000 acres in that state.

The Winecup Complex fire burning about two miles from the Idaho-Nevada border was threatening ranches in the area. The blaze, being fought by 572 firefighters, covered 155,970 acres and was 15 percent contained. It began July 17; no date was given for full containment.

The Winecup Complex of fires originally was reported at 205,847 acres but the acreage was revised downward when one of the fires included in that total was shifted to the Murphy Complex for logistical purposes.

In Utah, evacuations were lifted for the small town of Holiday Oaks as firefighters continued to make headway on the Salt Creek fire. However, residents were advised to be prepared to leave again if conditions changed. Evacuation orders remained for the communities of Oaker Hills, Indian Ridge and Elk Ridge.

The fire began east of Nephi near the center of the state, about 75 miles south of Salt Lake City. Since it began Thursday, it has grown to 21,377 acres. It was 25 percent contained.

In California, firefighters reported "significant progress" on the Zaca fire, which has been burning in steep, rugged terrain in the Los Padres National Forest since July 4. The fire was 65 percent contained with full containment set for Aug. 3. The cost of fighting the 31,000-acre fire on the central coast was estimated at more than $33 million.

Firefighters in northern California also reported progress, saying that burnout operations on the Elk Complex fire in the Klamath National Forest had reduced the fire threat to Happy Camp. The fire has covered 9,179 acres since it was started by lightning July 10. It was 28 percent contained with full containment expected Sunday.

In Oregon, a 51,000-acre fire in the Umatilla National Forest about three miles northeast of Monument was 50 percent contained. The Monument Complex fire began July 13 and was threatening homes and structures in the rural area around Monument. Nearly 1,100 firefighters were battling the blaze. Full contained was expected Aug. 1.

In northeastern Oregon, the Battle Creek Complex fire was 50,441 acres and 25 percent contained. Officials said 260 structures were threatened by the fire, 27 miles northeast of Joseph. Full containment was not expected until Aug. 20. Nearly 700 firefighters were manning the fire lines.

Related Files:

• Large_US_fires_72407.pdf