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Monsoon Puts Out Some Fires, While Accompanying Lightning Causes Others

Monsoonal flows helped firefighters in southern Utah gain the upper hand on wildfires last week, but the same summer weather phenomenon also brings lightning. It was only a matter of time before southern Utah felt the monsoon's double-edged sword.

There are a dozen or so small fires burning in the Arizona strip caused by lightning. the most threatening appears to be the Baboon Fire burning between Cedar City and Minersville.

The fire has burned 1,500 acres and is 0% contained.

Several thunder cells in the area could help firefighters, but then again, more lightning could make matters worse. Such is the nature of summer firefighting when typical summer weather patterns send moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into Utah's Dixie.