BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Bench Lake fire that closed the area around Redfish Lake grew to 150 acres by Saturday evening, up from 66 the day before.

"We are up at our family cabin at Fisher Creek and watched the fire grow immensely (Saturday)--very scary," said Blaine County Commissioner Muffy Davis.

Firefighters said they encountered active fire behavior with single trees and groups of trees torching. Numerous structures are threatened.

The fire is zero percent contained.

Local Type 3 Incident commander Chris Belliston, whose team operated from the Stanley Ranger Station, said firefighters were able to slow fire movement “considerably” on Friday thanks to water drops from scoopers. Bench Lake and a rocky outcrop are holding the fire in check on the west side.

Firefighters had to contend with increased fire activity from increased winds on Saturday, however.

As of Sunday 186 firefighters were assigned to the fire. While there is a well-traveled path to the first Bench Lake, there is a sketchy path plagued by deadfall that makes it different for ground resources to get into the area where they fire started between the second and third Bench Lakes.

The area has not been burned for 70 years, and there are a lot of dead trees there, killed during a mountain pine beetle breakout 20 years ago. Fire behavior is expected to increase as it moves into areas with a greater concentration of vegetation and beetle-killed pine, Forest Service officials said.

The Logan Hot Shots were onsite Saturday constructing a fire line, and the Mormon Lake Hot Shots are due to arrive this afternoon. That will allow ground resources to play a bigger role in suppression efforts, even as aviation resources continue their work.

Fire engines are in place at the north end of the lake to offer protection for Redfish Lodge, cabins and other structures. Hot shot crews are assessing where they can dig hand line and utilize natural features such as rock screes to contain the fire perimeter.

A type 1 aircraft arrived on the scene Saturday to augment two water scooper aircraft, a Type 2 helicopter with heli-rappelers, one Type 3 helicopter and an air attack aircraft. They are dropping water only, as fire retardant is not allowed within 300 feet of waterways.

Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands employees have mobilized structure protection resources.

Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 4 led by incident Commander Steve Shaw assumed control at 6 p.m. Saturday. His team will face increased winds today with possible thunderstorms on Monday.

Closed trails include the Redfish Creek-Baron Creek Trail to Flatrock Junction, the Bench Lakes Trail, Fishhook Creek Trail, Grand Mogul Trail and inlet connector trails, Marshall Lake Cutoff and the trails in the Saddleback Lakes and Elephant Perch area.

The fire is believed to have started at 12:30 p.m. Thursday one mile west of Idaho’s landmark Redfish Lake. Forty acres at the time, it grew to 66 acres on Friday before increasing to 150 on Saturday in the vicinity of three Bench Lakes, a popular area for day hikers and backpackers. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Officials closed the entire Redfish Lake area on Friday, evacuating campers, those staying at the Redfish Lake Lodge and others. The closure is estimated to have affected between 3,000 and 4,000 people, a larger number than an average weekend because of concerts scheduled this weekend in Stanley.

Boat facility workers at Redfish Lake ran boats to the inlet campground to evacuate campers and backpackers.

A helicopter dropping buckets of water on the fire in the initial attack Thursday evening crashed about 6 p.m. The pilot was able to call 911 and hike to a waiting ambulance, according to Forest Service spokesperson Angela Hawkins. The Forest Service is conducting an investigation of the crash.

Fire danger is now rated Very High in central Idaho, including the Salmon-Challis National Forest, moving up from High a couple days ago. No ground fires are allowed in the Sawtooth Wilderness at any time. Where fires are allowed in the Sawtooth Wilderness, they must be contained in a fire pan or on a fire blanket.

Outside the wilderness area, campfires must be contained in a rock ring or in a metal ring in developed campgrounds. Campfires should be cool to the touch before anyone leaves their campsite, as fire danger is high and wind conditions unpredictable.

As of Saturday, there were 37 large uncontained fires being fought under full suppression strategy, including a couple in near Ironside Ore., that threatened structures and sagegrouse habitat and prompted highway closures.