08/20/2008

Associated Press

Rain overnight came to the aid firefighters at wildfire near Davenport that has burned more than 15,000 acres — more than 24 square miles.

Lincoln County sheriff's Deputy Scott Blomgren says that should help Wednesday in the battle against the fire that led officials to tell residents of nearly 50 homes they needed to evacuate.

Fire spokesman Mark Morrow said there were about 390 firefighters on the scene Tuesday, about 10 miles northwest of Davenport.

The blaze was reported Monday afternoon southeast of Creston and destroyed an abandoned grange and an abandoned farmhouse. It's burning grass, sagebrush and scattered timber on state Department of Resources land.

Morrow says lightning probably started the fire.