Rain stalled the two wildfires near Ruby, but Tuesday's winds are a risk

Sunday's rain stalled both wildfires burning near Ruby, holding the Big Fire at 260 acres and the larger Cecil Fire at 1,000 acres about 11 miles east of town. The reprieve may be short: forecasters expect southwest wind gusts up to 20 mph on Tuesday, which could dry out the brush again anywhere the rain doesn't reach. Officials are urging residents to hold off on any outdoor burning.

Crews used the cooler, wetter weather to build containment lines around both fires, though the deep black spruce feeding the Cecil Fire is making that slow, hazardous work. More firefighters are being brought in to help.

Smoke is still visible from Ruby, and residents and nearby allotment holders can expect haze, fire traffic, and burn restrictions for now. One reminder from fire managers: keep drones away. A single civilian drone over the fire grounds every aircraft working it. "If you fly, we can't."