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BY KAREN BOSSICK Firefighters have been making progress securing the fire line at the Bench Lake Fire near Stanley. But it will take time to fully contain the fire since they’re dealing with record-low fuel moistures, above-normal temperatures and an overabundance of lodgepole pine killed years ago by beetle kill. The fire has consumed 2,525 acres in the Redfish Lake area, up a hundred from the day before. It is 13 percent contained, up from 8 percent the past few days. The latest fire progression has been on the northwest side towards the wilderness with a little bit of fire expansion on the south side of Point Campground.
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Kayaks at the Redfish Lake boat dock provide a colorful contrast against the monochromatic smoke. COURTESY: Sawtooth National Forest
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Sprinklers are running 24 hours a day at the 95-year-old Redfish Lake Lodge. Currently three helicopters, two scooper planes, 14 engines and 439 firefighters are working the fire, up from 324 a couple days earlier--a boon given the myriad of fires in the West. Firefighters are dealing with afternoon humidity of about 15 percent and wind gusts up to 20 miles per hour that can carry embers, starting spot fires. Crews are building containment lines in extremely rugged terrain near the upper Bench Lakes The closure area surrounding Redfish Lake has been expanded.
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This map shows the expanded fire closure around Redfish Lake.
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The closures include more of the Alpine Way trail south of Marshall Lake, the Thompson/Williams Peak area, the Stanley-to-Redfish trail from the Stanley Ranger Station to Redfish Lake Road, Redfish Ridge and Bull Moose trails and the Alice Lake-Redfish Lake Trail north of Hell Roaring Lake. The northern section of the Decker Flat Road is also closed from the Fish Hatchery to Huckleberry Creek. The Bench Lake Fire now has a dedicated air resource advisor to provide incident-specific smoke information so residents and visitors can make informed decisions about their health. The smoke outlook for today--July 20—indicates continuing smoke production, largely occurring after the inversion breaks in the afternoon. The Stanley Basin has been eperiencing improved air quality and less smoke. The smoke is expected to rise above Stanley today and travel east, impacting Challis.
Twin Falls, Boise and McCall are also experiencing smoke from fires in Oregon blowing into the area. Oregon saw 17 new fires start on Friday due to dry lightning strikes. Ketchum’s air has been rated “mostly good.” Sawtooth National Recreation Area’s law enforcement officer handed out more than $1,000 in citations on Friday for violations of Stage 1 fire restrictions. The restrictions include building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on private land. Smoking is also prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
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