Once Fast-Growing Montana Wildfire Slows

LIVINGSTON, Mont. - Strong winds that had caused a fire in an area popular with celebrities to nearly triple in size shifted Thursday and helped slow the blaze's growth, allowing some residents who had evacuated to return.

The wind shifted "pushing the fire back onto itself, which is a good thing," said fire information officer Kathy Thompson.

The fire grew to 32,000 acres, or about 50 square miles, as of Thursday evening and had destroyed two cabins and one shop in the Burris Flat area, Thompson said. On Wednesday, winds helped grow the fire to 27,400 acres, or nearly 43 square miles.

Residents of about 275 homes in Sweet Grass County and 50 homes in Park County …