CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The real possibility of significant rain — finally — could give a much-needed break to firefighters battling enormous wildfires up and down the Rocky Mountains. Forecasters in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana say there's a chance for strong thunderstorms across the region Thursday and in the days ahead. Heavy rain could make a big difference against wildfires, including one that has burned nearly 400 square miles of ranchland in southeast Montana. Firefighters also are optimistic about rainfall stifling a fire that forced the evacuation of dozens of forest cabins in southeast Wyoming, and a fire perilously close to the town of Newcastle in northeast Wyoming. Thunderstorms aren't always good news for firefighters in the West. They worry that gusty winds and lightning could make their job more difficult.
Predicted rain could douse some wildfires in West
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A tanker filled with fire retardant makes a drop on the north end of the fire in Alpine, Utah in Wednesday, July 4, 2012. Firefighters lifted some evacuation orders and called in two hot-shot crews to help battle a still-uncontrolled Utah County wildfire Wednesday. 350 homes remained under mandatory evacuation orders as firefighters fought the nearly 2,900-acre blaze, aided by winds blowing the blaze back up the ridge, away from houses. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)
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A wildfire burns in Lambert Park Tuesday, July 3, 2012 in Alpine, Utah. Fire officials say a wildfire in Utah County destroyed a barn and forced the evacuation of Alpine neighborhoods. The Lone Peak Fire District says no houses have been damaged and the fire has moved up the Wasatch mountains. The U.S. Forest Service is stepping in to fight the fire and evacuating American Fork Canyon. The Utah National Guard says it dispatched two Blackhawk helicopters with 600-gallon water buckets. With fire crews stretched around Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert called on the guard for help. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)
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Skyscrapers in downtown Denver are obscured by smoke drifting down from fires in Wyoming, eastern Montana and western South Dakota on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. While the wildfires are contained in Colorado, states to the north are facing an uphill battle as blazes burn unabated within their borders on Independence Day. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Emily and Byron Smith, and their son Ammon, 9, who returned after being evacuated, watch air crews continue to battle a wildfire near Alpine, Utah, on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The fire has charred 2,887 acres and destroyed one barn since it started Tuesday afternoon. About 500 homes will remain evacuated for at least the next two days. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Francisco Kjolseth)
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CORRECTS SOURCE - Sisters Ashlyn Walker, 16, and Shianne Walker, 7, retrieve Shianne's shoes from the gymnasium of Timberline Middle School Wednesday, July 4, 2012 after spending the night at the Red Cross Shelter Evacuation center. Their family was told they could re-enter their home Wednesday morning. The Walker family of seven and nine other people from the area stayed at the shelter when a mandatory evacuation order for their neighborhood was given around 8p.m. Tuesday. A wildfire that began Tuesday in Lambert Park in Alpine burned a barn and evacuated 80 homes. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)
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From left, Ashlyn Walker, 16, her sister Shianne, 7, mother Katrina, father Eric and brothers Don, 14, and Cody, 11, head back home from Timberline Middle School after spending the night at the Red Cross Shelter Evacuation center in Alpine, Utah, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The Walker family of seven and nine other people from the area stayed at the shelter when a mandatory evacuation order for their neighborhood was given around 8p.m. Tuesday. A wildfire that began Tuesday in Lambert Park in Alpine burned a barn and evacuated 80 homes. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)
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A helicopters fills a 600-gallon bucket with water from a local reservoir in Alpine, Utah, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. Firefighters lifted some evacuation orders and called in two hot-shot crews to help battle a still-uncontrolled Utah County wildfire Wednesday. 350 homes remained under mandatory evacuation orders as firefighters fought the nearly 2,900-acre blaze, aided by winds blowing the blaze back up the ridge, away from houses. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)
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