BY KAREN BOSSICK

That plume of smoke you’ve seen in the distance?

Chalk it up to either the Bible Back Fire or the Stewart Creek Fire, depending on which way you’re looking.

Both fires have been a little more active in the past couple days with temperatures climbing to the low 70s and humidity lowering to the high teens lowering into single digits.

And, with the clear air, we’re getting a look at the smoke emanating from them, said Fire Information Officer Bobbi Filbert.

That has prompted calls to emergency personnel and to Eye On Sun Valley in recent days from people thinking new fires have started.

• The Bible Back Fire burning in the White Cloud Mountains 11 miles northeast of Smiley Creek crossed over to the east in the lower Washington Creek drainage on Saturday, burning areas it hadn’t burned before. It’s also burned further to the north, said Filbert.

On Sunday it burned uphill to the east-northeast of lower Washington Creek, producing a column that was very visible in the Sawtooth Valley and other areas.

The fire had burned about 1,600 acres as of Friday, Aug. 31. It now has burned about 2,000 acres, Filbert estimated.

“If you look to the north from Ketchum you’re probably going to see smoke from the Bible Back Fire and, if you look in the other direction, you’re probably going to see smoke from the Stewart Creek Fire near Fairfield,” she added.

The part burning east of Washington Creek on the southern flank of the fire is burning intensely,  according to an infrared map made on Sunday. There are pinpricks on that map representing isolated heat spots inside the fire perimeter.

The smoke columns make it look worse than it is, Filbert said. Fire activity is actually moderate with some fire on the ground and some torching in conifer trees. Firefighters expect the fire on the southeast side to move east-northeast, perhaps meeting the fire perimeter directly to the north.

The Bible Back Fire was ignited on Aug. 17 by a passing lightning storm. It is burning in high elevation subalpine fir and Douglas fir forest, as well as open sagebrush hillsides.

Firefighters are not actively fighting it, due to the remote and rugged terrain. Some of it also is now burning inside the White Cloud Wilderness area where forest officials like to allow fire to play its natural role as much as possible. They are monitoring it with the help of 10 personnel and one helicopter.

The Fourth of July Road is open, but access to Fourth of July Lake, Washington Lake, Phyllis Lake and Champion Lake remain closed. Upper Pole Creek Road remains closed beyond the Grand Prize Trailhead, as is the Champion Creek Cut-Off Trailhead and access to the Chamberlain Basin, Three Cabins Creek Trailhead and Germania Creek.

• The Wapiti Fire burning near Grandjean has burned 4,571 acres and is 80 percent contained. Local Forest Service employees took back management of the fire from a Great Basin team on Monday.

  Forty-three firefighters are patrolling the containment lines to ensure they remain cold and black. Small amounts of smoke may be visible near the headwaters of the Elk Creek and Bear Creek drainages until the area receives rain or snow.

  The cause remains under investigation.

  While developed campgrounds at Stanley Lake and access to Stanley Lake remain open, dispersed camping in the area is not currently allowed.

  Trap Creek, Sheep Trail and Elk Creek campgrounds along Highway 21 are also open. So is Redfish Lake, and the Redfish Lake Inlet Trailhead, including access to the Baron Lakes and all lakes and trailheads in the southern Sawtooth Wilderness.

  Closed areas are Alpine and Sawtooth Lakes, Grandjean, and the Stanley Lake, Elk Meadow and Elk Mountain trailheads.

• The Stewart Creek Fire, sparked by lightning on Aug. 20 eighteen miles northwest of Fairfield is 2,626 acres and 37 percent contained.

The eastern part of the fire is the most active.

Helicopters and fire bosses—that is, float planes with water dropping capability--have been assisting with prepping lines. Smoke from the progressing fire has been visible.

Crews have reinforced lines to tie into the Bremner Creek drainage and are mopping up the western corner. The fire is being allowed to advance towards the Soldier Mountains where natural barriers are expected to minimize fire spread.