By Ben Winslow
The Deseret News

PAYSON, Utah — A wildfire that burned dangerously close to homes and campgrounds near Payson has been contained.

Storms moving across Utah today could help extinguish the 750-plus acre Spring Lake Fire, but government officials fear they could also trigger mudslides in the scorched area.

"Some good, wetting rains tonight may turn this into mud flows if we get some good, high intensity rains," said Don Carpenter with the Great Basin Interagency Fire team assigned to battle the blaze.

A rehabilitation crew has been brought in to examine the burned area to determine its risk and the best way to restore the area. The risk of flooding is high until the area is restored.

The fire was ignited on Friday by a downed power line and threatened homes and a campground. The Utah County Sheriff's Office has lifted evacuation notices for canyon residents and the Maple Dell Boy Scout camp.

Meanwhile, the fire crews who helped get the Spring Lake fire under control will be shifting to another wildfire burning in Utah. The 513 acre Little Bald Mountain fire in Tooele County's Stansbury Mountains is getting closer to containment.

Firefighters have been battling the blaze since it was sparked by lightning Thursday, and need a break with more storms in the forecast.

"We're supposed to be getting lightning, so we need to be ready for an initial attack," said Kathy Jo Pollock with the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire is only 62 percent contained, burning in heavy timber. Box Elder, South Willow, and North Willow canyons remain closed. The fire is burning only a couple of miles from homes.

"They've got a real strong line on the east edge between the homes and where the fire is," Pollock said. "That's pretty secure right now."

Copyright 2008 The Deseret News Publishing Co.