A 4th of July fire sparked by target shooting spread quickly in the afternoon heat, fanned by gusty winds. The "Rifle Fire" at last report had grown to about 60-acres after an accidental start at the Spring Creek Shooting Range sent flames rolling through the sagebrush and grass toward the Ruby Dome Ranch at the base of the Ruby Mountains near Lamoille. Air and ground crews in engines, a helicopter and SEATS attacked the wildfire, green areas slowed the spread. Firefighters stood by at the Ruby Dome Ranch to provide structure protection as the flames spread to the property line. No injuries were reported and no buildings burned in the midday fire as crews remained on scene to monitor and mop up.
