BY KAREN BOSSICK
A little Sunday morning rain from passing thunderstorms dampened the Gardner Fire burning three miles northwest of Picabo but not enough to have a serious impact.
The fire continues to burn through sagebrush and grass on Bureau of Land Management ground.
The fire, which started about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, has blackened 800 acres of foothills visible from Gannett Road.
Firefighters fought the fire on Sunday with aircraft, eight engines, two dozers, one water tender and two hand crews. Volunteers with the Carey Rural Fire Department are assisting BLM firefighters, as are members of the Sawtooth National Forest.
They’re focusing their efforts on the north and east side of the fire near Dry Creek where the fire is most active.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but believed to be human-related.
Meanwhile, the Bench Lake Fire at Redfish Lake is now 90 percent contained. Its footprint has remained at 2,595 acres for a week and it is showing only minimal fire activity in the fire area.
Ninety-four firefighters continue to tend the fire, with the help of one helicopter and one engine.