The Bench Lake Fire is 45% contained as Wednesday thunderstorms brought rain, lightning, and wind gusts up to 40 mph.
According to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service, 403 personnel are still working to contain the fire with 15 fire engines and nine helicopters.
“Friday will bring a 20% chance of thunderstorms with erratic winds and gusts up to 35 mph,” states the release. “Temperatures are expected to return to near normal over the weekend, and higher humidity will assist in slowing fire activity.”
Even with the turbulent weather on Wednesday, crews were still able to make progress toward securing the fire perimeter. Firefighters are continuing to mitigate hazard trees and ensure any hotspots are inside containment lines.