Some residents have been cleared to return to their mountain homes near Las Vegas on Sunday, 10 days after they were forced to flee because of a wildfire that has grown to 27,881 acres, or 44 square miles.
About 30 residents of Trout and Lovell canyons got the good news Saturday, while some 350 residents of Lee and Kyle canyons are awaiting word on when they can go home.
Fire information officer Larry Helmerick says rain and cloud cover allowed firefighters to reach 45 percent containment of the Carpenter 1 Fire on Mount Charleston, 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa says officials hope further improvement will allow other residents to return home as soon as possible.
The fire was sparked by lightning on July 1.
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