Firefighters in Utah race to beat wildfire, winds

HERRIMAN, Utah (AP) — Crews are racing to reinforce fire lines before winds pick up again on a wildfire sparked during a military exercise at a Utah Army National Guard base.

Fire spokeswoman Kim Osborn said today more firefighters are joining the 200-plus who worked Monday to fight the 4,300-acre “machinecun” fire at Camp Williams.

Osborn says officials hope the fire lines hold during high winds expected later in the day.

Four houses have been burned or damaged, and hundreds of homes in Herriman remain evacuated.

Utah Army National Guard Gen. Brian Tarbet took responsibility.

He says he’s “deeply sorry” for what he calls a “systematic failure” that allowed live-fire training Sunday despite high wind warnings at the base 30 miles south of Salt Lake City.