DECKER FIRE GROWS SOUTH OF SALIDA
Wind, warm weather and tinder- dry conditions have combined to fuel the Decker fire south of Salida.
The fire, sparked by lightning Sept. 8, has grown to more than 3,700 acres, according to firefighting officials. Massive plumes of dark smoke have filled the sky over the area.
Fire crews in the Boot Hill area have been working round- the- clock to slow the fire and protect homes and other structures. Boot Hill and areas including Methodist Mountain, Pinon Ridge Estates, the Fawn Ridge subdivision and Mountain Vista Village have been evacuated.
Aircraft are being used, and firefighters are digging break lines with hand crews and bulldozers. The fire was 5% contained Thursday, and more than 250 firefighters were working on the blaze.
Roads have been closed in the area.
Utah woman says bison flipped her into air, broke her ankle.
LAKE CITY Kayleigh Davis was hiking on a trail last Friday at Antelope Island State Park, chasing the sunset, when she suddenly, violently, was flipped into the air by a bison.
“I’m up in the air thinking, ‘ What’s going to happen to me after this?’ ” Davis said.
When she looked up, the bison was hovering over her. The 22- year- old woman screamed as the large, shaggy animal sniffed her and dug in its hooves before eventually leaving her alone, she said.
The incident left her with a broken ankle and a gash on her leg.
It’s not clear what prompted the bison to charge Davis.
Davis said she spotted the bison about a quarter mile ahead of her off the trail.
Antelope Island wildlife include hundreds of bison. The state park is connected to the Great Salt Lake’s southeastern shore by a 7- mile causeway.
Man enters plea in crash that killed trooper.
» A man whose car struck and killed a state trooper during a blizzard has pleaded guilty to a felony charge.
KMGH- TV reported that 58- year- old John G. Carpenter of Centennial entered the plea to a charge of failure to exercise care when approaching a stationary vehicle resulting in death.
A careless- driving charge was dismissed Wednesday.
Authorities say Carpenter’s car hit 52- year- old Cpl. Daniel Groves on March 13 as the trooper was helping a driver who had slid off Interstate 76 west of Roggen.
FAA investigating engine incident on United flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what caused part of an engine on a United Airlines plane to come loose after takeoff.
The Boeing 737 was scheduled to fly from Denver to Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, but returned and landed safely in Denver after the incident.
An FAA spokesman said the plane had an issue with an engine panel.
Video recorded by passengers showed the engine covering flapping loosely while the plane was in flight.
Engines coming apart are dangerous because pieces can break off and strike the plane.
United said customers were rebooked on different flights.