BY KAREN BOSSICK
J. McLaughlin dress shop in Ketchum will hold a Sip n’ Shop today--Saturday, Aug. 31--to benefit the volunteer firefighters who have spent much of this summer fighting first the Bench Lake Fire near Redfish Lake and, now, the Wapiti Fire, which started in Grandjean July 24 and now threatens the tiny resort community of Stanley.
Partnering with J. McLaughlin is the new next door neighbor CK Bradley, which sits catty-corner from Atkinson’s Market.
The shops will donate 15 percent of all sales between noon and 5 p.m. today to the Sawtooth Valley Rural Fire Department. The department, started in the 1970s, is made up of volunteers, some of whom have left their paying jobs to fight the fire. It’s funded solely by donations, rather than city or state funds.
The Annual Stanley Library Author Luncheon set for Sept. 8 has been cancelled due to the fire. This year's luncheon was to have featured poet and Idaho Writer-in-Residence Kerri Webster, author of books of poetry such as "The Trailhead.
"The firefighters are doing a great job, but the Wapiti fire continues to be really disruptive up here. It seems unlikely that local evacuees will be back in their homes or Highway 21 open by next weekend, and it would be a shame to hold an event for just a few people," said Julie Rember.
Residents of Lower Stanley were allowed back in their homes Thursday afternoon as firefighters got a handle on spot fire that had erupted near Nip and Tuck earlier. It showed no new growth on Thursday.
More than $11 million--$11.525,192, to be exact—has been spent fighting the fire as of Thursday. Thirteen cabins and other structures have been destroyed—several of them near Grandjean where the fire was started by lightning on July 24. At least 625 structures remain threatened.
Other high value sites at risk include the historic Sawtooth Lodge, Warm Springs landing strip, Stanley Lake recreation complex, 15 campgrounds and several trailheads, lookout towers, Lowman nature ponds, Kirkham Hot Springs, Bradley Boy Scout Camp and habitat for threatened and endangered species.
Large fire growth continues to threaten homes in the Stanley Basin and near Lowman. The fire’s resistance to control remains high and active fire behavior is expected to continue for several weeks, thanks to very dry sunny days and temperatures increasing to the mid-to upper 70s with 10 percent to 15 percent humidity.
The good news is there's a possibility of scattered showers on Monday and calmer winds in the forecast.
Fire Behavior Analyst Glen Lewis noted that fires flow like water, only opposite of water in that water flows downhill and fire uphill. There are an abundant amount of dry fuels in the area to make conditions conducive to fire but no strong wind event in the next future, he said. Still, spotting remains a major concern. As unpleasant as smoke is, it acts like a cloud cover and curbs spread, he added. There was a 20-degree difference Thursday in Stanley area where smoke cover was and the Halstead area where the fire flared under sunny skies.
The fire, which has consumed 92,141 acres, remains the nation’s top priority. On Friday there were 1,178 firefighters fighting the fire, up from a few hundred in the fire's early days. There are 70 engines, helicopters and other apparatus.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area District Ranger Kirk Flannigan told those attending a community meeting in Stanley Thursday night that the objective is full suppression--there is no "let it burn" policy in effect. But, he added, the objective is to protect values. It does not make a lot of sense to put crews in places like Halstead, where the fire advanced on Thursday or in the interior where fire eating itself up because the country is rugged and it does not contain values like homes and campgrounds.
Firefighter are looking at areas like the Casino area east of Stanley and Redfish Lake where the fire could go.
"We have a game plan in place if it should go there," he added.
Currently, Redfish Lake and lodge remain open.
"These are difficult times and traumatic times and it's not over," Stanley Mayor Steve Botti said.
Custer Emergency Services is providing an escort for property owners in Homestead, iron Creek, Crooked Creek, Goat Way and Cow Camp areas to visit their homes this morning--Aug. 31. Homeowners must sign in at the Emergency Operation Office at City Hall between 7 and 8 a.m. There will be one escort into the area at 8:30 a.m. and everyone must be out by 11 a.m.