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Show Lightning strike ignites big fire on Antelope Island falo that occupy the island. Sunday afternoon rains helped to completely extinquish the flames after firefighters had controlled them. Lightning rods put on the island have been relatively successful and have prevented any fires on the island for the last four years. One evening last July a park ranger counted 100 lightning strikes on the island in 45 seconds. It is imm- possible however to cover every inch of the island with lightning rods and so sooner or later one was bound to get through. The fire destroyed some poor quality alfalfa, but recently planted blue bunch wheat grass was spared. The blue bunch wheat grass is high quality forage for wildlife. The wildlife on the island was relatively unn affected as the deer and bison are accostumed to fire and were able to get out of the way. By JOHN W. CANNON ANTELOPE ISLAND - Around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon a lightning lightn-ing bolt started a massive windblown wind-blown fire on the island. The blaze which started near the south end of the island could be seen for miles. The inferno consumed 3,500 acres of the 28,000 acre island before it was contained and controlled Sun day afternoon. The island, a State Park; has been closed to the public since 1983 when the rising Great Salt Lake washed out the Syracuse causeway. Some 50 to 60 firefighters had to be transported to the island by boat, which was the only means of transportation to the island. Firefighters fought the blaze throughout the night. The troops constructed a fire break to contain the flames. Davis County search and rescue teams set up a command post to monitor communications and transport fire fighters to the scene. Planes circled overhead to monitor moni-tor the size and direction of the blaze.The crew continued to fight the flames trying to preserve the grass lands for the wild life and buf- |