Thursday, March 28, 2024
 
Click HERE to sign up to receive Eye On Sun Valley's Daily News Email
 
Stewart Creek Fire Puts ‘A Lot of Metal in the Air’
Loading
   
Monday, August 27, 2018
 

STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Two fires near Ketchum continued to expand over the weekend, and a new one destroyed cabins west of Stanley.

  • The Stewart Creek Fire 18 miles north of Fairfield grew 25 percent to 475 acres on Sunday.

And the smoke Sunday afternoon was blowing north towards the Wood River Valley.

The lightning-caused fire, now 20 percent contained, is burning in heavy timber. It’s leaving many burnt trees with weakened roots and hollowed trunks that could fall on firefighters, especially in winds up to 20 miles per hour as was present Sunday afternoon.

Six helicopters and several fixed wing air attack planes are trying to fight it from the air.

“A lot of metal in the air,” said Incident Commander Ryan Erne.

Crews are trying to steer the fire front towards the Soldier Mountain range in the northeast where they hope the fire will burn itself out in the rocky terrain and cliff faces where there is little fuel to burn.

After successfully establishing containment on the west side of the fire, firefighters are hoping to prevent its spread to the southeast. They’re hoping they can count on a 60 percent chance of rain to aid them in their efforts today.

Firefighters hope to have the fire contained by Wednesday, Sept. 5.

  • The Bible Back Fire 11 miles northeast of Smiley Creek grew from 232 acres on Friday to 1,610 acres by Sunday.

    The fire is in the White Cloud Mountains near Washington Lake Creek. On Saturday the fire progressed within a half-mile of the popular Washington Lake. It advanced one mile to the east of the Three Cabins Creek Trailhead.

    The 20 Firefighters working on the fire worked on Sunday to build a fire line on the west side of the fire to keep the fire from moving further to the west. Temperatures in the 60 degrees helped; afternoon winds did not.

    But firefighters have fingers crossed for rain or snow showers today with temperatures in the low 50s, both of which should moderate fire behavior.

  • The 6,190-acre Wapiti Fire, which was reported at 2:12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, has burned four cabins and an outbuilding in the Grandjean area west of Stanley. Several spot fires were found south of the South Fork Payette River but they were extinguished before they could get out of hand.

An area closure around the Grandjean has been put in place for public and firefighter safety. Forest Road 524, which connects Grandjean to Idaho Highway 21, has been closed and the Sawtooth Lodge, Grandjean campground and summer homes and hiking trails in the area have been evacuated.

The cause of fire is under investigation.

A Type 2 incident management team reported for duty Sunday evening.

Fire suppression now involves two Type 1 helicopters, one Type 3 helicopters, two air tankers, five hand crews and nine engines. There are 172 firefighters working the fire.

It is 0 percent contained.

Firefighters plan to spend today keeping the fire north of the South Fork of the Payette River and National Forest Service Road 524 so as to provide protection to the many cabins in the area. The weather is predicted to be favorable today with a high likelihood of showers and only a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Cabin owners and those who had to abandon campgrounds during the evacuation may call the Lowman Ranger District at 208-259-3361 for information about gaining access to the area.

 

~  Today's Topics ~


Lou Whittaker Leaves Behind a Legacy of Mountaineering and Storytelling

Free Range Poetry Society to Hold Second Gathering Tonight

Easter Bunny to Begin Hopping Friday
 
 

 

 

 

 
Website problems? Contact:
Michael Hobbs
General Manager /Webmaster
Mike@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
Got a story? Contact:
Karen Bossick
Editor in Chief
(208) 578-2111
Karen@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
 
Advertising /Marketing /Public Relations
Leisa Hollister
Chief Marketing Officer
(208) 450-9993
leisahollister@gmail.com
 
Brandi Huizar
Account Executive
(208) 329-2050
brandi@eyeonsunvalley.com
 
 
ABOUT US
EyeOnSunValley.com is the largest online daily news media service in The Wood River Valley, publishing 7 days a week. Our website publication features current news articles, feature stories, local sports articles and video content articles. The Eye On Sun Valley Show is a weekly primetime television show focusing on highlighted news stories of the week airing Monday-Sunday, COX Channel 13. See our interactive Kiosks around town throughout the Wood River Valley!
 
info@eyeonsunvalley.com      Press Releases only
 
P: 208.720.8212
P.O. Box 1453 Ketchum, ID  83340
LOGIN

© Copyright 2023 Eye on Sun Valley